Changing lives through healing hands

04 Apr 2019

By The Record

The annual Blessing of Hands ceremony, which recognises the importance of hands in the relief of pain, the prevention of disease and as a symbol of peace and solidarity was celebrated for the 28th year on 20 March. Photo: Supplied.
The annual Blessing of Hands ceremony, which recognises the importance of hands in the relief of pain, the prevention of disease and as a symbol of peace and solidarity was celebrated for the 28th year on 20 March. Photo: Supplied.

The annual Blessing of Hands ceremony, which recognises the importance of hands in the relief of pain, the prevention of disease and as a symbol of peace and solidarity was celebrated for the 28th year on Wednesday 20 March.

More than 150 staff and students from the University’s Schools of Arts & Sciences, Health Sciences, Medicine, Nursing & Midwifery and Physiotherapy participated in the celebration, held at the University of Notre Dame Australia’s Fremantle Campus.

Fr Mariusz Grzech led in the Blessing of Hands ceremony, celebrated at Notre Dame on 20 March. Photo: Supplied.

The blessing, conducted by the University’s Campus Chaplain, Fr Mariusz Grzech, reflects a centuries-old tradition where the hands of kings, priests and prophets were anointed with oils which symbolised good health and strength.

Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences Sarah McGann said the ceremony is an important recognition of counsellors’ ability to give a helping hand to those in need of support and guidance.

“Hands are a symbol of connection and through counselling we provide a safe, supportive connection to encourage healing and recovery to mental health and wellbeing,” she said.

Derek Boylan was the guest speaker at Notre Dame’s Blessing of Hands on 20 March. Photo: Supplied.

Director of the Centre for Life, Marriage and Family for the Archdiocese of Perth, Derek Boylen, was the guest speaker at the ceremony.

Mr Boylen said studying at Notre Dame has helped him to think about people in a deeper way, as whole complete human beings, and on his first experience of the blessing ceremony 15 years ago.

“I am so glad we’ve continued this tradition because I would hope that any person who graduates from this University leaves with a fuller appreciation of the miracle that is the human person.”

The annual Blessing of Hands ceremony, which recognises the importance of hands in the relief of pain, the prevention of disease and as a symbol of peace and solidarity was celebrated for the 28th year on 20 March. Photo: Supplied.

Mr Boylen is currently undertaking his PhD at Notre Dame, studying the shared meaning of marriage for long term married couples.

“It would be my hope that all of us will come to discover about ourselves, that we’ve been made by a loving God, we’re loved infinitely and created with purpose,” he said.

“God has essentially given us two gifts to fulfil this purpose; our time here on Earth and our bodies, our minds, our hearts and our hands – to make the world a better place.”