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Seven nursing students from the University of Brighton have returned from an eye-opening pilgrimage to one of the world’s most significant Catholic pilgrimage sites, where they spent a week providing compassionate care and companionship to pilgrims living with illness, frailty, and disability. From 25–31 July, the students joined our week-long annual pilgrimage, delivering round-the-clock, person-centred care in an emotionally rich environment far removed from the typical hospital ward.

Each year, between four and six million people travel to Lourdes – one of the world’s most significant Catholic pilgrimage sites – in southwest France. Among them this year, were approximately 700 pilgrims from our diocese, many of whom live with serious health conditions, disabilities, or frailty and require specialist support to make the journey.

From helping patients on and off the adapted "Jumbulance" coaches, to sitting quietly with those navigating profound personal journeys, the experience gave students a powerful insight into delivering care with empathy, presence, and respect beyond the clinical setting. While rooted in Catholic tradition, the opportunity was open to nursing students of all faiths and none, offering a powerful and inclusive experience that focuses on shared humanity.

Anna Goacher, a BSc (Hons) Nursing (Adult) student, said:

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“Travelling to Lourdes as part of the international placement has been one of the most personal, emotional, and spiritually significant experiences of my nursing journey so far. From the moment I joined the group, I felt welcomed into a community unlike anything I had experienced before.

“My role was to support pilgrims in whatever they needed, whether that meant helping with personal care, joining them on a trip to the shop, offering a listening ear, praying alongside them, or singing 'Happy Birthday' to celebrate their special moments. Even for those who are not Catholic, the energy of Lourdes teaches something profound about compassion, connection, and humanity.

“The care I witnessed and participated in here was unlike the pace and focus I often see in the NHS. In Lourdes, person‑centred care is a way of life. Leaving Lourdes, I carry with me not just clinical skills and experiences, but a renewed sense of the nurse I want to be, someone who prioritises compassion, respects individuality, and sees the person before the condition. Lourdes reminded me that nursing is, at its heart, a human and loving act, and that is something I will never take for granted.”

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Natalie Timmerman, a BSc (Hons) Nursing (Adult) student, added:

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“I looked after a gentleman who’d been dreaming of coming to Lourdes for years. Despite his health issues, his spirit was unshakable. Moments like that stay with you – they remind you of the human side of healthcare that textbooks can’t teach.”

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Priyachakshu Radulescu, a BSc (Hons) Nursing (Adult) student, said:

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"I come from a richly diverse background – Romanian and Roma Gypsy heritage, part of the LGBTQIA+ community, and an ordained Buddhist. In Lourdes, every part of me was seen, accepted, and truly welcomed.

“To be embraced by such a strong community – one rooted in care, hope, and faith – made me reflect deeply on how I want to practise as a nurse. I can absolutely see myself returning year after year. The friendships we formed there are lifelong.”

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This was the first time the students joined the dedicated care team of more than 150 healthcare professionals and volunteers on the pilgrimage. Their participation was made possible through a new international placement opportunity offered by the university’s School of Education, Sport and Health Sciences, which counts toward students’ professional practice hours while immersing them in holistic, person-centred care.

Sarah-Jane Ryan, Head of Practice Learning and Development for Health and Sport courses at the University of Brighton, who led the development of the placement, said:

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“Experiences like Lourdes are the future of nursing education – grounded in real-life complexity, diversity, and human connection. They prepare our students to lead with both competence and compassion.

“As these students move into the workforce and their final year, they carry with them not just clinical skills, but a deeply rooted understanding of what it means to care in the fullest sense. This kind of immersive, person-centred placement builds the resilience, empathy, and adaptability that today’s healthcare environments demand – and that truly set our graduates apart.”

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Emma Moon, Chief Nurse for the Arundel & Brighton Lourdes Pilgrimage said:

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"To our seven pioneers – you have all been amazing and such a positive addition to our pilgrimage. Thank you so much for all the loving care and support you have given to all our pilgrims."

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As they return to the wards and classrooms, these students carry a new lens through which to view care itself. This experience not only reflects the University of Brighton’s commitment to nurturing empathetic and resilient healthcare professionals but also leaves a lasting impression that will continue to shape their future practice.

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Source: University of Brighton