![Photo of the Blessing of the Hands ceremony with the crowd infront of the Basilica.](/sites/nursing.catholic.edu/files/styles/article_featured/public/2026-06/Blessing%20of%20Hands%202025.png?h=eac637af&itok=H1WieFIg) 

 **WASHINGTON, D.C., October 2025** — The Conway School of Nursing gathered in prayer, reflection, and celebration as **88 nursing students** participated in the annual *Blessing of the Hands* Ceremony — a cherished tradition that honors the sacred work of caring for patients.

Held in the **Crypt Church at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception**, the ceremony marked a pivotal moment in the students’ journey as they transitioned from the classroom to hands-on clinical practice. Students stood together, palms open, as **Father Aquinas Guilbeau, O.P.**, Vice President for Mission and Ministry at The Catholic University of America, gently anointed each set of hands, invoking God’s blessing on their work.

 

 

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##### A Tradition Rooted in Mission

The *Blessing of the Hands* is more than a rite of passage — it is a living expression of the Conway School of Nursing’s mission: **to lead in the compassionate care of the whole person — mind, body, and spirit**.

It reminds students that nursing is both a professional calling and a ministry of service, where technical skill and human kindness go hand in hand. As they prepare to enter hospitals, clinics, and community settings, the blessing serves as a **spiritual foundation**, calling each nurse to approach patient care with humility, dignity, and attentiveness. It emphasizes that healing involves not only treating symptoms but also nurturing the soul.

 

 

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#### Stepping into Clinical Practice

This year’s participants represent the next generation of nurse leaders. With their hands now blessed, these students will begin caring for patients in diverse healthcare environments — applying the knowledge and skills developed through rigorous academic preparation.

The ceremony affirms that Conway nursing students bring not only **clinical excellence**, but also the **deep compassion and moral grounding** that distinguish Catholic University nurses as healers of both body and spirit.