New Chapel Will Add to 'A Sense of Being Cared For'

For many years, Munson Medical Center has not had what Eric Mueller considers to be a “proper” chapel. That’s about to change thanks to a gift from a generous, anonymous donor.

In a few months, patients, visitors, and staff will have access to a beautiful new chapel located on the ground floor, just off of the new Emergency Room’s main lobby.

Mueller, VP of Plant Engineering, has wanted to find a permanent place for the hospital’s chapel for years.

“When I first got here 30 years ago, we had a proper chapel with stained glass,” he said. “It was nice. Over time, as we’ve needed space, the chapel has been moved here and there. Right now it’s on the second floor, it’s hard to find, and it’s very small. We’ve needed something better for a long time.”

The new chapel will be the direct result of a donor’s involvement. When the donor was approached about making a gift to the Emergency Room Capital Campaign, she and her advisors explained that her family’s foundation directs gifts to support spiritual work. Munson Healthcare Regional Foundation Interim President Bob Wick explained how a gift could be directed toward creating improved chapel space.

The donor’s objective dovetailed with Mueller’s long-time goal. “As we looked at the Emergency Room design, I thought if we could accommodate a chapel, we should,” Mueller said. “We had one area on the ground floor — it just seemed to me there was an opportunity.”

The chapel will be located in a highly-visible area, easily accessible to people coping with emergencies, those awaiting or celebrating the birth of a child, or families of those undergoing surgical procedures on the cardiac units directly upstairs.

“This is really going to add to people’s sense of being cared for here at Munson,” said Munson Medical Center Chaplain Louise Kountze. “Our ability to provide spiritual care is going to be greatly enhanced.”

An Inspirational Place

The donor and Munson’s design team have worked together to create an inspirational place for prayer and meditation. It will feature floor to ceiling windows looking out over a landscaped area. Funding for landscaping still needs to be raised, and Mueller estimated the cost at about $100,000.

The 370-square-foot chapel, more than twice the size of the current chapel, will accommodate groups up to about 20. Use of natural light, wood, stone, colored glass, and possibly a water feature will add to the chapel’s tranquility and warmth.

“It’s going to be very nice, and I am really grateful to this donor,” Kountze said.

Kountze believes the new chapel will provide great c omfort to people coping with emergencies and sudden serious illness. “Anyone who is here has a lot going on in their life,” she said. “This will be a place for them to collect themselves in a spiritually nurturing setting.”

Munson’s clinicians and staff will also benefit, she said. “I frequently stop by the chapel and find staff members there. Right now you feel so uncomfortable going in if someone is there because it feels as if you’re intruding. With larger space, more people will be comfortable using it.”

In the day-to-day life of the hospital, that’s important, she said. “We work in a very stressful environment. Many people take a little break to re-group, or to offer a prayer for a patient having a difficult time,” she said. “Many staff members find it’s important to remember that we aren’t working alone with patients. The staff is the biggest factor in our healing environment – taking care of them is a big part of taking care of patients.”

Kountze said one idea is to retain the current chapel space on the second floor as an additional quiet area for prayer or meditation. “It’s located near the ICU and surgical area and that was on purpose, so it could still be beneficial to have it open.”