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CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) Virginia Davy has been the Director of Pastoral Care at Sheyenne Care Center in Valley City, since 2005.

Davy says, “This truly is the place where I feel that on many occasions, I am walking with families on holy ground. Providing prayer for families, “Our Precious Good Bye” is always a blessing. She adds, “I have sat with residents, listening to their life stories. This generation of residents has seen changes and had experiences that are baffling.”

Davy was born the twelfth of thirteen children, she learned at an early age that care for others is the essence of life. Her family’s routine included morning and night prayer. This faith-filled soil impressed upon her the importance of depending upon the Lord.

She was married at 18 and widowed at 22 with a young child to raise, awakened her to grief, along with a compassion for others who grieved their losses. Later she married her current husband Dale, the two of them raised five children.

As Virginia continued to process her own grief, she followed a desire to help others. Serving Our Lady of Grace Parish, Minot, Virginia was encouraged to begin an outreach program for home bound ministry.

After attending a Befrienders Program, she and her pastor fashioned the program for a parish setting. Recognizing her gift for ministry, he encouraged her to pursue Clinical Pastoral Education(CPE). Virginia Davy received certification as a lay chaplain by the National Association of Catholic Chaplains in 1994. She pursued and obtained a BA degree in 1999 from the University of Mary, following that with a M.A. in Pastoral Ministry from St Mary’s University, Winona, Minnesota in 2004. Remaining in the parish setting for 14 years, she visited the home bound, hospital patients, presented grief talks, coordinated a parish pantry for the poor, and helped families plan funerals.

In 2000, she worked as Director of Spiritual Care in a hospital setting in Williston. She said, “the adrenalin is high, and expectations are huge as a chaplain works both sides of the door.” Her work there including teaching and integrating mission, orientating new staff, providing education around the Ethical Religious Directives, serving on the ethics committee. She also started grief groups and facilitated Advance Directive education in the community.

Coming to the Sheyenne Care Center in 2005, Virginia made it known that she wanted to be engaged in meeting residents’ needs and not be tied up in meetings.

CEO Craig Christianson said, “Virginia’s leadership goes much further than ministering to our residents. Even though her priority is with our residents and staff, she touches many lives here and in our community. I have always found Virginia to lead by example. She makes herself available at all hours of the day, and on many occasions has returned in the middle of the night to sit with residents in their final hours. Virginia’s leadership has generated many programs that enhance the respect and dignity of our residents. These programs consist of daily resident visits, bible studies, special holiday events, daily communion for residents, precious good-bye program, staff education on the Ethical Religious Directives and of our ministry’s Mission and Philosophy. It is such a blessing for our residents to have Virginia. Her presence is comforting to our residents, families, and to staff over the years. She is a true example of a servant of God.”

In reflecting upon her ministry at the Sheyenne Care Center, Davy said, “A chaplain must know the value in just being. It is only by the grace of God that chaplains walk a special journey each day. My heart tells me that I am following God’s purpose for me. I am grateful to the Sisters of The Presentation Health Services, to Craig Christianson, and all the staff for making my time as chaplain a special place to be a servant, a minister to God’s people.”

Virginia and husband, Dale, are parents to five children, have nineteen grandchildren, and two great grandchildren. Thankful every day for the love and support of her family, Virginia considers them her greatest blessing. Active in the North Dakota Chaplains Association for several years, she is presently serving as Vice-President. Active in St. Catherine’s parish in a variety of capacities over the years, she is presently a Eucharistic minister.