John Flinn, the executive editor of the travel section of the San Francisco Chronicle, recently made a trek to Machu Picchu. In his May 25 article about the adventure, he listed “Five cool things about the Peruvian Andes.”

1. Hiram Bingham, the Yale archaeology professor who uncovered Machu Picchu, is widely believed to be the model for Indiana Jones.
2. Peru and Chile are among the very few countries in the world to designate a national cocktail, and they chose the same one: the Pisco sour. There's some history - and bad blood - behind this, so in Peru always make sure to tell them you like their Pisco sours best.
3. I'm aware of only one word of Quechua - the language spoken by the Incas and their descendants today - that has made it into the English lexicon: ch'arki, their name for dried meat. We pronounce it "jerky." (There must be others; I expect Quechua-speaking readers will fill me in.)
4. The larger ones are llamas; the smaller ones with the really nice coats are alpacas.
5. You'll probably be offered cuy, a delicacy of the Peruvian highlands. It's guinea pig, and it's not bad; tastes like dark-meat chicken.

To read his entire article, click here.

To read about the Spiritual Directors International pilgrimage to Machu Picchu, click here.

Jim Keegan, SJ and MaryAnn Scofield, RSM facilitated two programs in Korea communicating the value of spiritual direction.  Comments from one of the organizers of the programs, Sister Han Soon Hee, RSCJ:

It is really a historical moment in the Korean Church because it is the first lectures on spiritual direction in Korea.  The two of you really sowed the seed for God in Korea. It will grow and spread like a mustard seed, and one day it will become the biggest tree for God in Korea. The Korean Church needs to deepen the Gospel messages through … retreat and … spiritual direction. 

 

For more pictures, please visit us here. 

By Debbie Lewis, BCC, MDiv, MS

The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) has established a standard of patient care for healthcare organizations including spiritual and emotional care for patients.  JCAHO identifies professional hospital chaplains as direct care providers, members of the interdisciplinary clinical team, and the discipline most responsible for assuring that these values are included in the care plan for patients.  

“Spiritual assessment should, at a minimum, determine the patient’s denomination, beliefs, and what spiritual practices are important to the patient.  This information would assist in determining the impact of spirituality, if any, on the care/services being provided and will identify if any further assessment is needed.  The standards require organizations to define the content and scope of spiritual and other assessments and the qualifications of the individual(s) performing the assessment [with many organizations requiring chaplains to be board certified].”   

While there is no direct relationship between spiritual direction and requirements for the hospital, JCAHO states that the patient’s spiritual assessment is to include identification of spiritual practices important to the patient.  These practices are then considered in the plan of care for the patient, be it anointing, prayer, or meditation. 

The Joint Commission is also an advocate for the ANCC’s Magnet Services Recognition Program - a credentialing program for recognizing a hospital as a center of nursing excellence - because of the positive impact the program has had in creating workplace cultures and nursing practices that support patient safety and high-quality care.

For more information on the Joint Commission, visit http://jointcommission.org/

I am delighted to read about the connection between Spiritual Directors International and Sojourners! I live near Philadelphia, am a member of Sojourners, and have attended the last two annual events. Thank you for bringing together two remarkable groups .... there is much spiritual energy here! I look forward to seeing how this connection grows. Also, I attended the Spiritual Directors International [Washington, DC] conference and have told many people it was the best conference I have ever attended. I felt blessed throughout the conference and am grateful for your commitment to this important ministry.

Linda Toia,
Lansdale, Pennsylvania
USA

 

Thank you Linda! 

Pangea Day - May 10th 2008.

In a world where people are often divided by borders, difference, and conflict, it's easy to lose sight of what we all have in common.  Jehane Noujaim, a documentary filmmaker and winner of the 'Technology, Entertainment and Design' prize, wanted to create a one-day, global, cross-cultural film festival — a marathon of movies, amateur and professional, whose common thread was fostering understanding of "the others." 

Pangea Day endeavors to bring the world together and promote understanding and tolerance, to help people see themselves in others.  All through the power of film.

The entire program will be broadcast – in seven languages – to millions of people worldwide through the internet, television, and mobile phones starting at 18:00 GMT on May 10, 2008.  Locations in Cairo, Kigali, London, Los Angeles, Mumbai, and Rio de Janeiro will also be linked for a live program of powerful films, live music, and visionary speakers.

For more information visit: www.pangeaday.org
Ny Times Article

Can Pangea Day Make a Difference?  Thoughts?