Staff and guests alike are delighted at the new look of the BAH offices. Calmed by light blue walls and cushioned by newly reupholstered furnishings, the open spaces are welcoming and fresh. Each office has been reconfigured with more efficient desk space so that several staff members can work together, and morale and mood are buoyed by the modern look. We're hosting several Open Houses for our friends to view the new look, so watch for your invitation.
Glad to support our friends at Project Connect as they "Walk the Extra Mile" to support their patients at the CORE Center. Two days a week, Chaplain Jim provides spiritual care to the patients at Stroger Hospital who live with the health complications of AIDS/HIV. Until Bishop Anderson House stepped in, this client population had no chaplain services and Jim has quickly become the "go-to" person for staff seeking to serve patients fully. We are also active in offering self-care events for the staff at the CORE Center--next on tap is a day of Pause, Relax and Repair workshops presented [...]
For over 50 years, Bishop Anderson House has been affiliated with Episcopal Charities and Community Services in the Diocese of Chicago. In 1957 the first “United Episcopal Charities Appeal” raised $37,000 as a result of a consolidated appeal for funding to support the work of eight partner agencies, and ECCS has been a major supporter of BAH ever since. Every year since its founding in 1960, Episcopal Charities makes annual grants to ministry partners. These grants are especially valued because they are for general operating support, providing the resources agencies use to ensure excellence in their ministries. The average grant [...]
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.
After nearly 20 years of residence in the Annex Building at Rush University, Bishop Anderson House has a renovation project underway. Over 1000 people pass through our doors each year and that takes a toll on the space. In this month alone, we've been the site of 2 weekly AA meetings, a perinatal bereavement support group, 2 Rush CPE gatherings, the Alive! pastors' meetings, our own board of trustees' meeting...not to mention the meetings and use by our staff. As we live into our ministry of being a welcoming, comfortable and safe gathering place for pastoral care in the Illinois Medical District, we realized it [...]
Chaplain for CORE Center jcroegaert@bishopandersonhouse.org Bishop Anderson House warmly welcomes Chaplain Jim Croegaert, as part-time chaplain to patients of Project Connect at the Ruth M. Rothstein CORE Center of Cook County. When Jim took Clinical Pastoral Education in the late 90’s, he found it to be a “real fit,” and soon began his career as a professional chaplain. He spent the past 20 years serving as a hospital chaplain, serving for 16 years as head of the Spiritual Services Department at Resurrection Medical Center in Chicago. Jim also uses his spiritual care gifts in Disaster Spiritual Care with the American [...]
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, [...]
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, [...]
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, [...]
Plans are being finalized for the "The Art of Healing" spring benefit, being held on May 1st. The silent auction is back with these stunning prizes: Backstage at the Lyric Two Tickets to the Magic Flute PLUS 2 Dress Rehearsal Tickets to another show, complete with a backstage tour and lunch (or supper) with Lyric soprano Kimberly McCord Bear Down Chicago Bears Two tickets for the home team and a gift certificate for a meal in near the game Brookfield ZooPalooza Twelve entrance tickets, 3 parking passes and other family goodies, valued at over $400 Downton Abbey Dinner for 8 A [...]
