Halle, Halle, Halle

It was with both sadness and joy that we closed our NACC 2012 National Conference in Milwaukee.  Each day, our attendees rejoiced with Halle, Halle, Halle by John Bell.  Here in this video are some final moments with this glorious sound of rejoicing!

Archbishop Paul Coakley, STL, DD at Closing Eucharist

Tuesday, May 22, 2012 Closing Celebration of the Eucharist

On Tuesday, May 22, 2012 the NACC National Conference closed with our final Celebration of the Eucharist.  Our celebrant was NACC Board Member and Episcopal Liaison Archbishop Paul Coakley, STL, DD, Archbishop of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.  At this Liturgy, we moved quite literally from a time of mourning to a time of dancing.  After Archbishop Coakley's homily, the names of the members of the NACC who had passed away in the last year and were honored with a candle and flower.  It was very moving for our attendees and symbolized how fragile our lives are.  We concluded our celebration with the song "I Danced in the Morning" by Sydney Carter and said goodbye to our friends and colleagues.  Deacon Thomas Berna, BCC is pictured with Archbishop Coakley.  The candles and flowers honoring our deceased friends are also pictured in this photo.

Conference Table Discussion

Plenary Speakers Share A Moment Together

Speakers John Dear, SJ and C. Vanessa White, D.Min. at the Tuesday morning Plenary session at the NACC 2012 Conference

Tuesday May 22, 2012 Plenary Speaker John Dear, SJ

Tuesday, May 22, 2012 saw the last day of our NACC National Conference.  We were blessed to have John Dear, SJ as our plenary speaker in the morning on the topic of "Blessed are the Peacemakers".  He shared his own journey with us and it was both a moving and stimulating presentation.  His challenges to the attendees brought much discussion at the tables.  We are grateful for his presence.

NACC Business Meeting

At the NACC Business Meeting, members discussed the third draft of the NACC Strategic Plan.  Board members Mary Lou O'Gorman, BCC (NACC Treasurer), Alan Bowman, BCC (NACC Board Chair), and David Lichter, D.Min. (Executive Director) spend a few minutes before the Business Meeting in conversation.