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The "Blessing of the Hands" ceremony is a tradition that honors the compassion and dedication of healthcare professionals during National Nurses Week.

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NMRTC Cherry Point Celebrates Nurses, Blessing of the Hands

The "Blessing of the Hands" ceremony is a tradition that honors the compassion and dedication of healthcare professionals during National Nurses Week.

Father Ignatius Madamere blesses the hands of Cmdr. Stacey Swindells during the “Blessing of the Hands” ceremony at Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Cherry Point.

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NMRTC Cherry Point Celebrates Nurses, Blessing of the Hands

Father Ignatius Madamere blesses the hands of Cmdr. Stacey Swindells during the “Blessing of the Hands” ceremony at Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Cherry Point.

Kim Baker, a member of the Healthcare Business team, receives a blessing from Father Ignatius Madamere during a ceremony recognizing National Nurses Week.

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Details

NMRTC Cherry Point Celebrates Nurses, Blessing of the Hands

Kim Baker, a member of the Healthcare Business team, receives a blessing from Father Ignatius Madamere during a ceremony recognizing National Nurses Week.

Tawanda Ford, a nurse with the Occupational Medicine department, speaks with Father Ignatius Madamere during the “Blessing of the Hands” ceremony at Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Cherry Point.

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Details

NMRTC Cherry Point Celebrates Nurses, Blessing of the Hands

Tawanda Ford, a nurse with the Occupational Medicine department, speaks with Father Ignatius Madamere during the “Blessing of the Hands” ceremony at Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Cherry Point.

Cmdr. Stacey Swindells, head of the Healthcare Business department, participates in a “Blessing of the Hands” ceremony held at Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Cherry Point on May 6.

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NMRTC Cherry Point Celebrates Nurses, Blessing of the Hands

Cmdr. Stacey Swindells, head of the Healthcare Business department, participates in a “Blessing of the Hands” ceremony held at Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Cherry Point on May 6.

Nurses from Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Cherry Point gather in the facility’s atrium for a “Blessing of the Hands” ceremony, May 6. Led by Navy Chaplain Lt. Cmdr. Daniel Bruno and Catholic Priest Father Ignatius Madamere, the ceremony marked the beginning of National Nurses Week, which is observed from May 6-12.

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NMRTC Cherry Point Celebrates Nurses, Blessing of the Hands

Nurses from Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Cherry Point gather in the facility’s atrium for a “Blessing of the Hands” ceremony, May 6. Led by Navy Chaplain Lt. Cmdr. Daniel Bruno and Catholic Priest Father Ignatius Madamere, the ceremony marked the beginning of National Nurses Week, which is observed from May 6-12.

Allison Ellingsworth of the Marine Centered Medical Homeport team receives a blessing from Father Ignatius Madamere. The ceremony honored the spiritual and dedicated nature of the nursing profession.

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Details

NMRTC Cherry Point Celebrates Nurses, Blessing of the Hands

Allison Ellingsworth of the Marine Centered Medical Homeport team receives a blessing from Father Ignatius Madamere. The ceremony honored the spiritual and dedicated nature of the nursing profession.

MCAS Cherry Point – Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Cherry Point celebrated the dedication and spirit of nursing Wednesday May 6, 2026 with a “Blessing of the Hands” ceremony.

Led by Navy Chaplain Lt. Cmdr. Daniel Bruno and Father Ignatius Madamere, the ceremony served as an opening to National Nurses Week aboard the clinic, which runs from Wednesday, May 6 to Tuesday May 12.

Nurses are critical to the success of the clinic's mission of "Keeping the Warfighter in the Fight" and serve in departments across the clinic, providing patient care and subject matter expertise.

The "Blessing of the Hands" ceremony is a tradition that honors the compassion and dedication of healthcare professionals during National Nurses Week.

PHOTO INFORMATION

Download

Details

NMRTC Cherry Point Celebrates Nurses, Blessing of the Hands

The "Blessing of the Hands" ceremony is a tradition that honors the compassion and dedication of healthcare professionals during National Nurses Week.

Father Ignatius Madamere blesses the hands of Cmdr. Stacey Swindells during the “Blessing of the Hands” ceremony at Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Cherry Point.

PHOTO INFORMATION

Download

Details

NMRTC Cherry Point Celebrates Nurses, Blessing of the Hands

Father Ignatius Madamere blesses the hands of Cmdr. Stacey Swindells during the “Blessing of the Hands” ceremony at Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Cherry Point.

Kim Baker, a member of the Healthcare Business team, receives a blessing from Father Ignatius Madamere during a ceremony recognizing National Nurses Week.

PHOTO INFORMATION

Download

Details

NMRTC Cherry Point Celebrates Nurses, Blessing of the Hands

Kim Baker, a member of the Healthcare Business team, receives a blessing from Father Ignatius Madamere during a ceremony recognizing National Nurses Week.

Tawanda Ford, a nurse with the Occupational Medicine department, speaks with Father Ignatius Madamere during the “Blessing of the Hands” ceremony at Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Cherry Point.

PHOTO INFORMATION

Download

Details

NMRTC Cherry Point Celebrates Nurses, Blessing of the Hands

Tawanda Ford, a nurse with the Occupational Medicine department, speaks with Father Ignatius Madamere during the “Blessing of the Hands” ceremony at Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Cherry Point.

Cmdr. Stacey Swindells, head of the Healthcare Business department, participates in a “Blessing of the Hands” ceremony held at Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Cherry Point on May 6.

PHOTO INFORMATION

Download

Details

NMRTC Cherry Point Celebrates Nurses, Blessing of the Hands

Cmdr. Stacey Swindells, head of the Healthcare Business department, participates in a “Blessing of the Hands” ceremony held at Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Cherry Point on May 6.

Nurses from Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Cherry Point gather in the facility’s atrium for a “Blessing of the Hands” ceremony, May 6. Led by Navy Chaplain Lt. Cmdr. Daniel Bruno and Catholic Priest Father Ignatius Madamere, the ceremony marked the beginning of National Nurses Week, which is observed from May 6-12.

PHOTO INFORMATION

Download

Details

NMRTC Cherry Point Celebrates Nurses, Blessing of the Hands

Nurses from Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Cherry Point gather in the facility’s atrium for a “Blessing of the Hands” ceremony, May 6. Led by Navy Chaplain Lt. Cmdr. Daniel Bruno and Catholic Priest Father Ignatius Madamere, the ceremony marked the beginning of National Nurses Week, which is observed from May 6-12.

Allison Ellingsworth of the Marine Centered Medical Homeport team receives a blessing from Father Ignatius Madamere. The ceremony honored the spiritual and dedicated nature of the nursing profession.

PHOTO INFORMATION

Download

Details

NMRTC Cherry Point Celebrates Nurses, Blessing of the Hands

Allison Ellingsworth of the Marine Centered Medical Homeport team receives a blessing from Father Ignatius Madamere. The ceremony honored the spiritual and dedicated nature of the nursing profession.

MCAS Cherry Point – Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command Cherry Point celebrated the dedication and spirit of nursing Wednesday May 6, 2026 with a “Blessing of the Hands” ceremony.

Led by Navy Chaplain Lt. Cmdr. Daniel Bruno and Father Ignatius Madamere, the ceremony served as an opening to National Nurses Week aboard the clinic, which runs from Wednesday, May 6 to Tuesday May 12.

Nurses are critical to the success of the clinic's mission of "Keeping the Warfighter in the Fight" and serve in departments across the clinic, providing patient care and subject matter expertise.

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