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CATHOLIC NURSE JOURNAL WINTER 2008
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE JOURNAL IN PDF FORMAT
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Catholic Nurse WINTER 2008
www.catholicnurses.org.uk
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National Chaplain
Fr Eric Mead
St. Anne’s Presbytery, Devonshire Gardens, Cliftonville, CT9 3AE |
National President
Mrs .Jacqui Hall
2, Heswall Road, Northburn Dale,
Cramlington, NE23 3UU |
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National Vice-President
Mrs. Gerry Yates
Laurel House , 35 Seaview Road , Heron Bay Kent CT6 6JB
National Treasurer
Liz Cooney
5 Shefford Rd.,Seabridge, Newcastle under Lyme,Staffs ST5 3LE.
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National Secretary
Mrs Mary Farnan
26 Charnwood Rd, Great Barr,
Birmingham B42 1JR
Tel 0121 251 8515
EMAIL
catholicnurses@msn.com
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Association of Catholic Nurses of England and Wales.
CONTENTS
Page
2 Editorial
2 The Doctor’s Guild Jacqui Hall
3 President’s Report Jacqui Hall
4 CICIAMS Elections. Jacqui Hall
5 ACN Elections Jacqui Hall
5 Catholics in Health Care Jacqui Hall
6 Dates for the diary Jacqui Hall
6 Global Alliance for Nursing and Midwifery Jacqui Hall
7 CICIAMS World Congress Jacqui Hall
Editorial
In this edition of the Catholic Nurse Journal, we present the newly elected National Executive Board. We have included aspects of the contributions made at the Catholics in Health Care meetings, and also information on the “Catholic Medical Association” formerly, the Catholic Doctor’s Guild.
The World Congress for CICIAMS and a General Council Meeting is to be held in March 2009, hosted in Monterrey, Mexico. This will involve electing new International Executive Board members. Anyone who wishes to join Jacqui Hall, who is representing us, please contact the CICIAMS web site for further information www.ciciams.org
The Doctor’s Guild
Jacqui Hall
While attending a meeting of the National executive board some time ago, Nora McCarthy informed the Committee that the doctor’s Guild were to change their name. This was around the same time that we were changing to our present title. We are now informed that the Catholic Medical Association is the new title replacing the Catholic Doctor’s Guild. It would also give scope for other Catholic health professions to join this Association. At present the ACN has resisted the amalgamation to this new association partially on the grounds of cost but also due to our own new identity being so recently formed.
PRESIDENTS REPORT
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Winter 2008
Dear Members,
This year we are anticipating a great deal of change with the advent of the CICIAMS World Congress about to commence in March 2009. The Association of Catholic Nurses of England and Wales will be represented by me on this occasion (although I would urge anyone else to join me if they can afford the time and expense). It would be a great achievement if we can influence the elections of new Executive Board members internationally.
As a Catholic Nurse I was fortunate enough to go to Lourdes in the special Paulian Year and the 150 years since the “Visitation” of Our Lady to St Bernadette. It was as part of the International Military Pilgrimage ‘s 50th Anniversary that I managed to accompany other Forces Veterans as you can see in the picture below.
My colleagues and I had also completed the journey around Lourdes to claim our plenary indulgence. Once we were back at the hotel we were getting ready to accompany these “Chelsea pensioners” to the “Hosanna House” where a BBQ was being arranged for us. |
My TA involvement as a Nursing Officer, who was a member of the Ambulance Train Squadron, managed to get me invited to York. There I was to be involved in the presentation of the Territorial Army Centenary Locomotive, which was unveiled by HRH the Duke of York, Prince Andrew.
This past year has been quite eventful for a number of reasons. We managed to have yet another successful Pilgrimage to Walsingham and although there were a number of members missing (Eileen Lamb especially), we were able to celebrate them in our prayers and liturgical celebrations. Mary Farnan has once more produced some wonderful memories on the web site for us to reminisce. |
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At our AGM in October I was able to give a little insight into what it was like to be “a nurse in Afghanistan”. Using a power point presentation, I gave a short account of my experiences (cleared by the MoD of course). Our meeting this coming year will be on 31 October 2009, at St. Vincent’s Convent, London, so make sure you have this noted in your diary.
Nora McCarthy has not been too well for some of 2008 and yet she still tries to make sure we are represented in some way, when it comes to the Doctor’s Guild or other such meetings. We wish her health and happiness in 2009 and hope she continues to get better.
Through the constant work produced by Mary Farnan, I believe we have made a huge impression on the Catholic Nurses and the presence of the Association as a useful vehicle for Catholic Nurses. Many people have used the web site and it continues to be truly commendable, many thanks Mary for all your hard work.
Questionnaires continue to be completed on the web has been particularly useful in allowing people to comment on what they look for in the organisation and how they would like us to proceed. Hits continue to be from around the world so not only from England and Wales. |
The Catholics in Healthcare are still working tirelessly and when I have been unable to attend, the National Executive have been very supportive. Once more my thanks to Mary Farnan who represented us recently.
The publication “Caring for the Catholic Patient” continues to be a popular piece of work and even the CICIAMS Executive have asked for copies to take to Mexico! Published by the CTS, it gives guidance for people caring for Catholic patients, which will be useful to all Nurses.
Our own Catholic Nurses Prayer Book has also proved to be very popular and we are considering producing another edition if we can get enough contributions. Please feel free to write your own prayer if you can. Any contributions will be gratefully accepted and selection will then be made at the editor’s discretion.
The global alliance for nursing and midwifery has been up and running for some years now and have recently been discussing a number of important aspects of patient care. One issue is regarding out of date drugs and medication, while a more recent issue is that of the desperate state in Gaza for the civilian population and the nurses and doctors out there.
It is almost exactly a year since I returned from Afghanistan and I can’t believe how quickly the time has passed. I hope I did not neglect my duties to you too much but please give support to the new National Executive Members who are in office since October 2008.
I wish you all a Happy and Blessed New Year and offer the Love of Christ as “the reason for the season”.
God Bless to all who contribute so much to the work of the Association of Catholic Nurses. |
Jacqueline Hall
President of Association of Catholic Nurses, of England and Wales
Association of Catholic Nurses of England and Wales
Elections: October 2008
Following the nominations for the positions of the National Executive Board, the following people were elected:
Jacqueline Hall President (to extend for only one more year)
Gerry Yates National Vice- President
Mary Farnan National Secretary/Website Management -Association of Catholic Nurses & CICIAMS website.
Elizabeth (Liz) Cooney National Treasurer
Nora McCarthy Journal Editor
Christine Bentley Newsletter Editor
I would like to thank all of those people who have been elected, for showing such dedication and support to the Association of Catholic Nurses. We can’t continue without you.
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Catholics in Health Care www.smuc.ac.uk/catholics-in-healthcare/
Jacqui Hall
It has been wonderful to see how successful the new publication “Caring for the Catholic Patient. A Guide to Catholic Chaplaincy for NHS Managers and Trusts “, has been. It was a privilege to be able to attend a seminar held by Catholics in Health Care at St Mary’s College , London.Once more we were privileged to have very eminent speakers. Baroness Julia Cumberledge, who just happened to get off the same train as I did and offered to share a taxi to St Mary’s College. |
The “Faith in Health
Sustaining vocation and professionalism in Healthcare today”, Conference was held from 3rd to 5th July 2008 at St Mary’s University College, Twickenham
The Aims:
1. To further the current public debate about vocation and professionalism within the NHS by bringing into the frame the contribution of Catholic teaching and the experience of Catholics and other Christians working in healthcare; and
2. To provide a space for healthcare professionals from different dioceses across the country who seek to see their work as a vocation to reflect on the spiritual basis of that vocation, to be renewed and affirmed in a ministry that in the eyes of the Church directly flows from the healing ministry of Jesus, and to foster local networks in dioceses.
Desired Outcomes of the Conference
• A wider and deeper appreciation of the positive contribution the Church can make to the evolving debate on the future of the NHS;
• A celebration and affirmation of the contribution of Catholics involved in healthcare at all levels, lay and ordained, as part of their Christian witness;
• Creative thinking about possible new ways in the longer term whereby the Church might be engaged more explicitly in healthcare delivery;
• The participation of the Church more effectively in dialogue about spiritual care as a vital dimension of healthcare and social care, and in advocacy for mental health work. The Conference was a resounding success which provided much food for thought.
Dates for the Diary:
7 February 2009 National Executive Board Meeting. St. Vincent’s London.
24 February 2009 Health Care Reference Group Meeting, London.
7-11 March 2009 CICIAMS World Congress, Mexico
19 May 2009 Health Care Reference Group Meeting, London
9-19 June 2009 Walsingham, Annual Pilgrimage
31 October 2009 AGM, ACN, St Vincent’s Centre, London.
Global Alliance for Nursing and Midwifery
Jacqui Hall
From an e-mail I received recently we are urged to recognise that The Gaza war is a ‘NEW’ catastrophe for all Palestinians. Sahar Hassan asks us to consider the following:
First:
The Lancet published an Editorial, Comment, Special Report and Correspondence to highlight the deteriorating situation and describe the impossible and tragic circumstances being experienced by civilians and doctors there.
For Editorial, Comment, Special Report, and Correspondence, see: www.thelancet.com/gazamaterial For reportage from an aid worker in Gaza, follow the links.
Second:
Stories that were written by a Palestinian nurse (a friend of Sahar) who was feeling the dilemmas of answering the questions of his children and describing feelings of helplessness to protect / support his six kids. Although you might already have seen these, in the below links, Please read his stories, view the CNN report and observe the CNN video:
http://insidethemiddleeast.blogs.cnn.com/2009/01/11/online-tales-of-despair-from-gaza/?s_subsrc=gaza1&s_src=default
http://edition.cnn.com/video/
As nurses we can at least offer our prayers and support.
CICIAMS Elections
Jacqui Hall
There are more CICIAMS elections to be held in Mexico at the World Congress, as the General Secretariat of CICIAMS, Geraldine McSweeney was unable to continue in this post and handed in her resignation. Nominations have been requested by the Secretariat and anyone willing to stand as a candidate for international positions are asked to get in touch with your President Jacqui Hall, so that we can put your name forward.You can register on the web at www.ciciams.org
It is with regret that Miss Geraldine McSweeney from Dublin, has had to resign as General Secretary of CICIAMS,
we wish her all the best.
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Association of Catholic Nurses
England and Wales
Newsletter
Newsletter Number 3. April2008 www.catholicnurses.org.uk
Welcome to our quarterly newsletter aimed at keeping you informed of the activities and issues within the Association of Catholic Nurses.
Prayer is an important part of our Catholic life and you are asked to remember the Association daily in your prayers. Here is our own prayer.
“O Lord our God, gracious, patient and of much compassion, mercifully regard our humble work. Strengthen us in our holy vocation and make us ever faithful to our calling. We humbly pray that by the grace of Your Holy Spirit we may so serve you in Your sick in this world that we may see You forever in Heaven” Amen
Our Lady Health of the Sick, Pray for us.
Report from our President
Thank you to everyone who has sent me messages of goodwill and support while I have been nursing in Afghanistan. The whole experience has been one of great humility and wonder.
The patients I nursed were from 2 years old to adults in their late 40’s who presented with a variety
of illnesses, from renal colic to head injuries.
The temperatures we endured were 35 degrees Centigrade when I went out there in October 2007 and went down to -20 degrees when I left in late January 2008. Needless to say that was also an experience in itself! So was this experience in a helicopter!
 
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We were very fortunate to have Padres from a variety of Christian Faiths out there, so it was good to be able to still have a focus for prayer. Jacqui Hall
left Jacqui ,pictured with her husband and daughter , receives the Afghanistan Medal for her involvement in the Field Hospital with Operation Hendrick 7 from October 2007 -January 2008. |
Dates of Interest.
Our pilgrimage to Walsingham 2008 takes place on 10-11 June.
Details of the days can be found in your Christmas Journal or on the website. Please remember to book your accommodation in plenty of time so you are not disappointed.
Our AGN takes place on Saturday 25th October 08 in Carlisle Place London starting at 11.00. Please make every effort to attend and support our new executive committee
Obituary
Eileen Lamb (RIP)
It is with sadness we inform you of the death, earlier this year, of our loyal member Eileen Lamb. As a faithful member and past President of the Catholic Nurses Guild of England and Wales, Eileen will be remembered for her unfailing support to us as an association, and her commitment to C.I.C.I.A.M.S as a past European President and International President of C.I.C.I.A.M.S. She represented the association of Catholic Nurses fervently. Eileen never failed to join us at Walsingham having arranged the very first pilgrimage over 25 years ago,
which has continues ever since. As National President she led us into the future of nursing and when her term of office was completed she continued to give advice and support to subsequent presidents. Representatives of the association attended Eileen’s funeral in February and a donation was made to the charity of Eileen’s choice at her request. May she Rest in Peace, Amen
Bishop Kevin Dunn (RIP)
Another great loss on 1 March 2008, was the loss of Bishop Kevin Dunn, Bishop of Hexham and Newcastle .
Please pray for the repose of their souls.
Lent
Lent can be more than a time of fasting; it can be a season of feasting. We can use Lent to fast from certain things and to feast on others. It is:
Fasting form judging others; feast on the Christ dwelling within them.
Fast from emphasis on differences; feast on the unity of life.
Fast from the apparent darkness; feast on the reality of light.
Fast from thoughts of illness; feast on the healing power of God.
Fast from words that pollute; feast on phrases that purify.
Fast form discontent; feast on gratitude
Fast from anger; feast on patience.
Fast from pessimism; feast on optimism.
Fast from worry; feast on divine order.
Fast from complaining; feast on appreciation.
Fast from negatives; feast on affirmatives. Fast from unrelenting pressures; feast on unceasing prayer.
Fast from hostility; feast on non-resistance.
Fast from bitterness; feast on forgiveness.
Fast from self-concern; feast on compassion for others.
Fast from personal anxiety; feast on eternal truth.
Fast from discouragement; feast on hope.
Fast from facts that depress; feast on verities that uplift.
Fast from lethargy; feast on enthusiasm.
Fast from thoughts that weaken; feast on promises that inspire.
Fast from shadows of sorrow; feast on the sunlight of sincerity.
Fast from idle gossip; feast on purposeful silence.
Fast from problems that overwhelm; feast on prayer that under girds.
From a member.
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