Nursing Students Have the 鈥楨xperience of a Lifetime鈥� on Lourdes Pilgrimage
Madison Matella 鈥�25 (left) and Kylie Flynn 鈥�25
For two juniors who participated in the annual Lourdes Pilgrimage with the Order of Malta American Association, April 30-May 7, it was 鈥渢he experience of a lifetime.鈥�
Madison Matella 鈥�25 and Kylie Flynn 鈥�25, now rising seniors, accompanied a cadre of nearly 400 people鈥攖he Order鈥檚 Knights, Dames, Auxiliary, volunteers and people with illnesses and disabilities鈥攖raveling to Lourdes, France, to experience spiritual gifts and healing at one of the world鈥檚 most popular pilgrimage sites. They undertook their journey with the support of Craig and Nancy Gibson P 鈥�20, whose generosity has provided for two Nursing students to take part in the annual pilgrimage since 2016, except for three years that were not possible because of the Covid pandemic.听
Nancy and Craig Gibson P '20
The Gibsons鈥� support for student nurses on the pilgrimage stems from their experience at Villanova in 2016 when their daughter, Caroline 鈥�20 BSN, MSN, FNP-C, began her education at the College with then-Connelly Endowed Dean and Professor of Nursing M. Louise Fitzpatrick, EdD, RN, FAAN.
鈥淒ean Fitzpatrick was incredibly helpful in Caroline鈥檚 journey at Villanova, and we talked with her about going to Lourdes,鈥� said Nancy. 鈥淚t was something Dean Fitzpatrick said she would love to do but was never able to get there.鈥�
Having chaired the Order鈥檚 pilgrimage in 2017 and participated for many years, the Gibsons had seen a few other schools successfully integrate student nurses and believed it could work for Villanova.
鈥淲e knew this was of great interest to Dean Fitzpatrick,鈥� said Craig, 鈥渁nd covering the students鈥� expense was an extraordinary way we could express our deep gratitude to the institution and to her鈥攆irst in her honor and then in her memory [Dean Fitzpatrick passed away in 2017]鈥攆or all the good that she brought to Villanova.鈥�
Madison and Kylie served as medical volunteers, spending each day from early morning into the evening with their malades (鈥渟ick person鈥� in French), deeply involved in every facet of care as they assisted the medical team of physicians and nurses. Madison said she gained a profound and unique perspective of spiritual and physical healing from caring for her malade and learning from the medical team.
鈥淭his was truly the experience of a lifetime, uplifting my faith and inspiring my spirit,鈥� she said, 鈥淚 am so grateful for the opportunity.鈥�
The weeklong schedule featured the signature events of a Lourdes Pilgrimage, highlighted by a visit to the Grotto of Massabielle, where the first of 18 apparitions of the Virgin Mary appeared in 1958 to a young woman who would go on to become St. Bernadette, as well as a stop at the Sanctuary Baths for the sprinkling of water and Anointing Mass. They also walked in the Candlelight Procession with thousands of other visitors as they came together holding candles while they processed around the sanctuary and recited the rosary.
Kylie (left) and Madison
鈥淚t was absolutely incredible to be lighting candles with thousands of other pilgrims from around the world and hearing the rosary proclaimed in each language,鈥� said Madison. 鈥淚t reminded me of our [Villanova] orientation when we lit candles in the Finn. It was a real full-circle moment when I felt right where I was supposed to be.鈥�
Active in student life on campus, Madison and Kylie were selected for this opportunity by Campus Ministry and Catherine P. Lovecchio, PhD, RN, Associate Dean of the Undergraduate Program and Clinical Associate Professor.
鈥淢adison and Kylie are excellent academic and spiritual students who have shown compassion for diverse patients and entered into nursing with a loving heart to serve others,鈥� said Dr. Lovecchio. 鈥淲e knew they would demonstrate Villanova Nursing's mission of healing ministry in Lourdes.鈥�
Caroline Gibson 鈥�20 BSN, MSN, FNP-C
For the first time this year, Caroline, a nurse at South Boston Community Health Center, joined her parents and the Villanova Nurses on the Order鈥檚 pilgrimage, serving as a medical team member.
鈥淭his trip changed my life for the better, in ways I never could have imagined,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he ability to interact with the听malades听and their caregivers on such an intimate and personal level each day, while also being able to practice medicine in its original form鈥攏o charting, IV machines beeping, provider's orders or Pyxis machines to dispense medications鈥攚as a true blessing and an honor. I felt such a connection to my nursing career.
鈥淭he trip reminded me of why I wanted to be a nurse in the first place: to help others, to advocate for others and to be听present听with others at the most vulnerable times in their lives.鈥�
Although they were assigned to different medical teams, Caroline and her parents checked in often with the Villanova student nurses.
鈥淭hey were both fantastic鈥攅ager, kind, and caring,鈥� said Caroline. 鈥淚t was very evident that they were excited to be a part of the trip and were willing to lend a hand anywhere necessary. 鈥� It was a privilege to meet each of them and to be able to go through this experience听for the first time together. I look forward to reuniting with them, and all the other student nurses, in the many years to come.鈥�
Kate Dowdle 鈥�19 BSN
Craig and Nancy describe the Lourdes experiences as 鈥渁 magnificent way, a practical way, a powerful way to provide a weeklong experience using clinical skill sets and ministry skill sets out in the field of life.鈥� One of the nurses they had sponsored in 2018, Kate Dowdle 鈥�19 BSN, exemplifies this perspective, returning with the pilgrimage as part of the medical team for the past two years and planning to volunteer again next year.听
鈥淭he whole experience of being a part of the Lourdes medical team for the annual pilgrimage is such a joy in my life,鈥� she said. 鈥淚f I can help the malades receive that miracle or have some peace throughout their medical journey just by this pilgrimage, then I am honored to be a part of that journey for them.鈥�
Dowdle says that the pilgrimage is the epitome of living her faith through her nursing vocation. As a nurse in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), she works with 鈥渁n incredibly sick population with high intensity day in and day out.鈥� When she finds that circumstances make it challenging to live her faith through her job, Dowdle calls on her experiences at Lourdes to help her prioritize care of her patients, caregivers and fellow nurses.
鈥淭he pilgrimage is all about putting yourself second and putting the needs of the malades and caregivers first,鈥� she said, 鈥渁nd serving others.鈥�
Kylie听agrees that the pilgrimage will leave an indelible mark on her nursing career.
听鈥淚 learned so much from the malades and the medical team, and I strengthened my faith while doing so,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he biggest thanks possible go to Mr. and Mrs. Gibson for making this trip possible.鈥�