Anointing of the Sick

       In the Church’s Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, through the ministry of the priest, it is Jesus who touches the sick to heal them from sin – and sometimes even from a physical ailment.  His cures were signs of the arrival of the Kingdom of God, and the core message of His healing tells us of His plan to conquer sin and death by His dying and rising. The Rite of Anointing is administered by a priest, who uses olive oil to anoint the patient’s forehead and,  perhaps,  other parts of the body while reciting certain prayers.  It is believed to give comfort, peace, courage, and, if the sick person is unable to make a confession, even forgiveness of sins.  

       The Rite of Anointing tells us there is no need to wait until a person is at the point of death to receive the Sacrament.  A careful judgment about the serious nature of the illness is sufficient.  When the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is given, the hoped-for effect is that, if it is God’s will, the person be physically healed of illness.  But even if there is no physical healing,  the primary effect of the Sacrament is a spiritual healing by which the sick person receives the Holy Spirit’s gift of peace and courage to deal with the difficulties that accompany serious illness or the frailty of old age.  

       Please call the Parish Office to schedule the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick for your family member or loved one, whether in the home or a local hospital/nursing facility.  If that person is in the hospital outside our local boundaries, you are encouraged to contact the Catholic Hospital Chaplain to arrange for a local priest to administer the Sacrament.  Again, please do not wait to request a priest to visit, rather,  call the office and we will promptly arrange for the Sacrament to be administered.