June news
Our latest newsletter has something for everyone. Click to read about our successful benefit, our new Chaplain Jim Croegaert, the Volunteer Spiritual Care Visitor Training and more.
Chaplaincy in the Public Square
Friends, We are pleased to announce a conference, “Chaplaincy in the Public Square,” to be held at Rush University Medical Center on June 17, 2016 from 8:30-4 pm, Room 994 Armour Academic Center. The United States has been described as a society where peoples’ ties to faith communities are weakening. Winnifred Sullivan, our first plenary speakers, will present the argument that this may open new opportunities for chaplains’ spiritual care. However, advancing chaplaincy will still require making a compelling case for it. Chaplain Christopher Swift, our second plenary speaker, has helped make the case for chaplaincy care in the UK, [...]
Staff benefits from uplifting self-care workshop from A Balanced You
Tayonon Gbala of A Balanced You and Jason Simmons of HiFi Personal Fitness recently led a self-care workshop for Bishop Anderson House. After an all-day staff and board retreat and the successful Art of Healing benefit, we welcomed the "Pause, Relax, Restore" presentation. We learned breathing techniques, Zen shiatsu stretching and paused for meditation. Ann Ryba even enjoyed a mini-Thai massage.The entire experience was refreshing and uplifting. We first met Tay0non when she gave chair massages at our self-care day for CORE Center Project Connect. She is a vibrant entrepreneur who is passionate about holistic meditation. Tayonon Gbala is an Illinois State licensed Massage Therapist, [...]
“The Art of Healing”–a night to remember
Many thanks to each of our supporters who joined us on May 1st to celebrate the mission and ministry of Bishop Anderson House. Over 150 guests wined and dined, laughed and listened to a variety of compelling stories about the value and importance of volunteer and professional chaplaincy. Event Chair Becky Duggan shone in the beautiful Society of Arts gallery as she led the crowd to bid on items and implored them to have fun while doing so. Dave Kyllo opened the night with an amazing grace, proclaiming the "wow" of what we do. Chaplain Paul Goodenough shared his valuable insight, [...]
Friends of The House
Our newest venture, ‘Friends of the House,’ serves people whose hearts are hungry for community and who wish to put their hands to work serving others. With a goal of building support for extending the ministries of Bishop Anderson House through regular giving, the group gathers regularly in service of patients and staff at Project Connect at the CORE Center of Cook County and Warren Barr Pavilion Medicaid Nursing Care. Each service project is followed by a free social adventure, from free tequila tastings at Blue Agave to a Back to School tailgate. Our initial event, collecting winter clothing at our benefit at DS Tequila, garnered over 100 items [...]
Rooted in our History and Faithful to our Values
Plotting the course to a vibrant future As you may have heard by now, Bishop Anderson House will be undertaking a strategic planning process in 2016. At its January meeting, the board of trustees made the decision to be guided in the strategic planning process by Dr. Richard O’Neill, Professor in the Institute for Decision Excellence and Leadership at SUNY Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse, NY. What is distinctive about Dr. O'Neill’s process is that the plan will emerge from the board itself. We have a very talented board of psychologists, clergy, medical doctors, business professionals, artists, and lay [...]
Welcoming 24 New Volunteer Lay Chaplains
Bishop Anderson House and the wider Chicago area are now being served by 24 recent graduates of Volunteer Lay Chaplain Training. This cadre of volunteers hailed from multiple faith traditions and neighborhoods, but bonded together as one, learning the skills of active listening, the gift of presence, and how to navigate the medical landscape. Our newest alumni will be serving at Alexian Brothers Hospital, Northwest Community Hospital, and in their own congregations and communities. We congratulate each graduate and wish them Godspeed as they bring the Care to Health Care. Perhaps you feel called to become a volunteer chaplain. Enrollment for Spring 2016 is [...]
Code Lavender
As hospital staff and caregivers are stretched more and more, some hospitals are initiating a "Code Lavender" to prevent burnout. Bishop Anderson House has long supported health care workers, from sharing prayer shawls and Teddy Bears with nurses to offering educational opportunities to physicians and students. Currently, Chaplain Cherryl leads monthly workshops to promote self-care and avoid staff burnout for staff and volunteers at Project Connect, Cook County Hospital System. We are honored to provide a safe and comforting place where health care workers facing the hardest challenges can "unpack" their deepest concerns. In 2016 we hope to offer several stress [...]
Apply now – Spring Volunteer Chaplain Training
Apply now for our upcoming Spring 2016 Volunteer Chaplain Training Session Wednesday evenings, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., February 17 through May 11, 2016 Held at Bishop Anderson House offices, 707 S Wood Street, Chicago, 60612 Application open through January 30, 2016 Class is open to members of all faith traditions Students are recommended by congregational leader or professional chaplain Weekly field work site determined by student and supervisor 2 hours of class time and 2 hours of field work each week $300 enrollment fee Download application here Application Spring 2016 For more information please call Cherryl at 312-563-4825 or cholt@bishopandersonhouse.org
We Celebrate Pastoral Care Week
Friends, what better way to celebrate Pastoral Care Week than with good food and good people? We want to invite spiritual caregivers and educators from across the Illinois Medical District to a couple of events that celebrate each other and the healing ministry that we share. First, Bishop Anderson House invites you to our space for lunch on Wednesday, Oct 28th! The food we're providing will be a tasty Middle Eastern spread, from 11:30am to 1:30pm. And then what do you call a bunch of chaplains at a bar on a Thursday after work? Chappy Hour, that's what! We're heading [...]