Bethesda Regional Health Centre and Bethesda Place in Steinbach have a new chaplain. She is Lydia Summerville who has called Steinbach home for the past 24 years. Summerville says she has studied hard for the last decade to prepare for a position like this.

"I've had the privilege and the luxury of being able to study for the past ten years. I went to Providence University/College for my Bachelor's, Providence Theological Seminary for my Master's and then I went on to Tyndale Theological Seminary in Toronto for another Master's then two years of study in CPE which is Clinical Pastoral Education at St. Boniface Hospital, Victoria Hospital and Riverview Health Centre (in Winnipeg)."

Summerville says she felt God's call to chaplaincy work while studying in the seminary at Providence. She outlines her approach to the role.

"There's a lot of heavy stories, there's a lot of big stories and I always try to hold what people give to me very sacredly. I want to walk with them, not ahead of them and not behind them. I want to honour what they have. But I also have to remember that I am not the ultimate spiritual care giver, that's the Holy Spirit. I have the honour of being with people in that position while the Lord holds me."

In her first few weeks on the job, she says she has been made to feel very welcome at Bethesda.

"I have felt a real hospitable spirit from the hospital and Bethesda Place. I feel like it's a family and even though I know it's a steep learning curve, I feel the encouragement and the affirmation from all the ministerial and I don't think I could be more encouraged. So, thank-you to the community."

Summerville succeeds Larry Hirst who is retiring at the end of the month.

The chaplaincy position is funded 50/50 by the Steinbach and Area Ministerial Association and Southern Health.