Rev. Paul Rack our newest Chaplain

We are happy to announce that Rev. Paul Rack, a long time resident of Somerset County, has joined the Chaplaincy and will be providing Chaplaincy services at the Willowcreek Rehabilitation & Care Center and the Somerset Valley Rehabilitation/Nursing Care Center. Paul is a graduate of the Princeton Theological Seminary (1981 M.Div.) and was Ordained Minister of Word and Sacrament by the Presbytery of Albany (NY) in 1981. He came to New Jersey in 1988 as Pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church in Martinsville. Rev. Rack is currently Stated Clerk of Elizabeth Presbytery and has had interim pastor duties at several NJ churches. He has authored many articles on relegious issues in the Courier news. He is married to another Chaplaincy chaplain Rev. Susan Rack. We are happy to have Paul, with his years of experience, as the newest addition to our Chaplaincy team.

Rev. Paul Rack

Rev. Linda Owens Chaplain

We are pleased to announce that Rev. Linda Owens has joined the Chaplaincy and will be at Arbor Glen - Holly Health Center beginning in October. Linda obtained her M.Div. degree from Princeton Theological Seminary in 1992 and was ordained in the Presbyterian Church, USA also in 1992. She has extensive experience working with both youth and adults while directing programs at churches in Red Bank, Liberty Corner and most recently Bound Brook, NJ. Welcome Linda.

Rev. Linda Owens

Rev. Frank Villerius Retires From Chaplaincy After 31 Years Service

In September 2012, Chaplain Frank Villerius retired as a Chaplain for the Chaplaincy after 31 years of service. He first started with the Chaplaincy in 1981 when the Chaplaincy was moving from a single full time chaplain to multiple part time chaplains. He served at Foothill Acres, Greenbrook Manor, Holly Health Care, and Somerset Valley. At the bi-monthly Board meeting on September 19, 2012, Frank told Board Members about his years with the Chaplaincy. He noted that over the years the "nursing homes" had changed to become "assisted living" facilities and there are many more facilities that have been built since 1981. Originally a Chaplains job was to go from room to room visiting patients and listening. Now days there is more emphasis on group meetings. After Franks presentation, Vice President Gardner Patton presented Rev. Frank a plaque commemorating his 31 years of service. Thanks Frank.

Rev. Frank Villerius, Gardner Patton

2012 Annual Meeting

Fr. Ron Pollock

The annual Meeting of the Somerset Chaplaincy to the Elderly was held on Thursday, May 31st, 2012 at the new campus of Foothill Acres Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Hillsborough. During the meeting Janice Reinhardt was newly elected to the Board of the Chaplaincy and Philip Muniz, Jill Weidner, and Ed Meharg were re-elected to the board in the class of 2015. In other business the work of the Chaplains and the Chaplaincy was reviewed and a budget for the year 2013 was adopted. Speaker at the meeting was Father Ron Pollock, Rector of St. John's Episcopal Church in Somerville and a current Chaplaincy Board member. The topic of his talk was The Church, the Aging, and the Future. During his talk he emphasized that despite all the new technological advances, the people of the church are the embodiement of God's love to others, especially the aging.

Board Members 2012 Annual Meeting

Chaplains 2012 Annual Meeting