Blessing of the Hands Prayer Service Honors Nursing Students, Celebrates Feast of St. Albert the Great

The Caldwell University Nursing Department  held  its 2^nd annual Blessing of the Hands Ceremony on Nov. 12 to honor  the nursing students and their professors and to celebrate the feast of the Dominican, St. Albert the Great.

The prayer service was led by Vice President for Student Life Sister Kathleen Tuite, O.P.  The ceremony gives students an opportunity to consider the importance of their hearts and hands in the provision of nursing care.

Sister Kathleen explained that  the university chose to hold the blessing this week, since  this coming Saturday the Church celebrates the feast of St. Albert the Great, a Dominican who is known as a patron saint of scientists.  She pointed out that Caldwell nursing students study in Albertus Magnus Hall, also named after the saint.

President Nancy Blattner read from scripture and blessed the hands of the nursing professors who in turn blessed the hands of the nursing students.

The prayer service provides a spiritual experience symbolically linking the art of nursing with the science of nursing practice. Nursing students are given the opportunity to reflect on the interconnectedness of humanity, the healing art of nursing, and the duty of the nurse to provide holistic care to all human beings.