Ministries » Sacraments » Anointing of the Sick

                         Anointing of the Sick

This sacrament is offered a few times throughout the year in communal celebrations at the parish. The parish priest and priests of the area faith community can be contacted to receive this sacrament on an individual basis. The sacrament of anointing is the proper sacrament for those Christians whose health is seriously impaired by sickness or old age. The faithful should be anointed as soon as there is prudent judgment that sickness is serious. The priest is not to anoint a person who has already died. Extreme Unction” and “last rites” are no longer part of the Church’s ministry to the sick and dying. Rather a much richer experience is offered to the sick and dying through Sacramental Ministry to the Sick and Dying:

Visits to Sick Adults and Children
Those who visit the sick should help them to pray, sharing with them the word of God proclaimed in the assembly from which their sickness has separated them. As the occasion permits, prayer drawn from the psalms or from other prayers or litanies may be added to the word of God. Care should be taken to prepare for a future visit during which the sick will receive the eucharist” (no. 46)

Communion of the Sick
The grace of communion is union with the whole Body of Christ, head and members, for the eucharist is the sacrament of Church unity.

Prayers for the Dying and for the Deceased
Contact the parish priest to receive the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. Other parish staff and parishioners also assist with ministry to the sick and dying by visiting those in nursing homes, the homebound, and those in the hospitals.