ANN RYBA, Author at Bishop Anderson House

Welcome back from CPE, Sara!

On Ash Wednesday, I walk my unit at Rush Hospital in my lab coat, my right hand slowly turning gray as I smudge ash onto foreheads and sanitize between rooms. I go to the room of Claudia,* who told me yesterday that she has decided to stop chemotherapy. She is tired and ready to go home to God. Her face lights up when I enter with a small jar of ashes. I place the sign of the cross on her forehead with one hand as she squeezes my other hand in hers. “Remember that you are dust, and to dust [...]

By ANN RYBA|2014-04-03T08:41:15-05:00April 3rd, 2014|Chaplain, Education, Julian Year|0 Comments

Spiritual Care in Health Care Webinar

Over 20 chaplaincy professionals gathered for the Bishop Anderson House webcast of the HealthCare Chaplaincy's Caring for the Human Spirit Conference. Intriguing presentations about the role of research and spirituality highlighted this first ever conference. As part of our mission of providing worthwhile educational opportunities to support volunteer and professional chaplains, we were pleased to host the event, and look forward to next year's conference.

By ANN RYBA|2014-04-03T08:47:11-05:00March 13th, 2014|Chaplain, Education|0 Comments

February Newsletter
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February Newsletter

Bishop Anderson House

February Newsletter

Click to read the February Pastoral Care Connections.

By ANN RYBA|2014-02-24T15:19:35-06:00February 24th, 2014|Bishop Anderson House|0 Comments

Join us at Rush University Ground Rounds

Psychological, Spiritual and Moral Challenges of Combat Trauma Kent Drescher MDiv, PhD Clinical Director The Pathway Home WEDNESDAY March 12, 2014 10 – 11 AM A. B. Dick Auditorium Kellogg Building Rush University Medical Center Contact Jay Risk at BAH for more information: 312.563.4824 The Pathway Home is a 35-bed non-profit residential PTSD treatment program in Yountville California for OIF/OEF veterans and active-duty service members. A trained Presbyterian minister and psychologist, Dr. Drescher is involved in educational projects in the area of Moral / Spiritual impact of trauma, and web development of veterans resources for PTSD recovery. His current major projects include [...]

By ANN RYBA|2014-02-17T10:21:12-06:00February 16th, 2014|Education, Medicine|0 Comments

Tender Loving Care
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Tender Loving Care

Bishop Anderson House, Chaplain, Medicine

Tender Loving Care

I heard the cries as soon as I entered the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. One of the harsh truths of a cold winter like this is that we see an increased number of children with burns from families using alternative heat sources to keep warm. I knew those cries were from a young child whose burn dressings were being changed. The two year old boy had been living in an illegal apartment in the city. Illegal, because it did not meet requirements for being rented out. But it was. A young mother was renting it with her 2 and 4 [...]

By ANN RYBA|2014-02-05T14:18:41-06:00February 5th, 2014|Bishop Anderson House, Chaplain, Medicine|0 Comments

Meet the New Class of Trustees

Bishop Anderson House added 4 talented new members to the Board of Trustees at the 2014 Annual Meeting. We are grateful and honored to welcome them aboard. The Rev. Anthony J. Vaccaro, M.D. came to Chicago in 1989 after completing medical school at Boston University. Before that, he spent a year in mission in Belize City upon the completion of his undergraduate studies in Biology and Spanish at Boston College. Not quite done with his studies or exploring his vocation in the healing ministries, Anthony went on to receive an M.Div. degree at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston and an [...]

By ANN RYBA|2014-02-13T14:12:37-06:00January 22nd, 2014|Trustees|0 Comments

A Chaplain’s Journey

Kim Lessner, Parish Operations Manager at St. Michael's Episcopal Church, Barrington, graduated from Volunteer Chaplain Training in the Spring of 2013. When applying for the Bishop Anderson House Volunteer Lay Chaplain Training, I felt a strong call to the hospital environment and paying it forward after recent personal experiences. BAH was currently in the process of developing a relationship with The Rev. Neris Diaz, the Chaplain at Sherman Hospital, Elgin, and it was agreed that I spend two hours weekly with patients with a one hour supervisory visit to follow. The first week I shadowed Neris to a few patient rooms and [...]

By ANN RYBA|2014-01-23T15:40:45-06:00January 16th, 2014|Chaplain, Volunteer Chaplain Training|0 Comments

A Chaplain’s Journey

Randy Wakitsch has been a full-time chaplain at Centegra Hospital, Woodstock, since 1996 and serves as an Assistant Priest at St. Ann's Episcopal Church. I wasn’t new to chaplaincy when I went through the Lay Parish Chaplain Program, but I was still getting to know the Episcopal Church after growing up Roman Catholic. So what I valued most about the training was meeting people in the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago who were doing significant ministry with an Episcopalian mind and heart. I learned a lot from the courageous willingness of my classmates and instructors to sit with those they served and [...]

By ANN RYBA|2013-12-10T15:21:54-06:00January 5th, 2014|Chaplain, Education, Volunteer Chaplain Training|0 Comments

Creating Hope: The Power of Faith Communities in Mental Health Recovery

January 15 --Workshop Opportunity Pathways to Promise, an interfaith cooperative, hosts Creating Hope, a one-day workshop to present various ways that faith communities and people engaged in mental health recovery can work together. Panelists from a variety of faith communities will describe ways they have developed the types of relationships and community practices that facilitate recovery. 8 p.m. to 6 p.m. $25 per person Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Churchwide Oﬃce 8765 W. Higgins Rd, Chicago, IL 60631 (near O’Hare airport) Click for complete details and registration information.

By ANN RYBA|2013-12-12T15:56:39-06:00December 16th, 2013|Education, Workshops|0 Comments

32 New Volunteer Chaplain Graduates

Over 100 friends and family members recently celebrated with the newest (and largest) graduating class of Bishop Anderson House's Volunteer Chaplain Training course. ELCA Bishop Wayne Miller presided over an inspirational worship service of Holy Eucharist and Certification of Pastoral Care Visitors at Faith Lutheran Church, Glen Ellyn. A festive luncheon (thanks to a "Faith-ful" volunteer corps) provided the backdrop for congratulatory hugs and poignant goodbyes, as the newly commissioned students reflected upon the pastoral care skills they refined and sharpened during the 12-week program. Coming from varied faith traditions and 14 congregations, the group bonded over the goal of fostering the [...]

By ANN RYBA|2013-12-05T15:01:40-06:00December 5th, 2013|Chaplain, Education, Volunteer Chaplain Training|0 Comments

About ANN RYBA