Anointing of the Sick

The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick

The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is intended to strengthen those who are suffering from serious illness. Some people may recall a time when this sacrament was celebrated only with those who were dying.

Pastoral Care.

In the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, we encounter Jesus as a person who heals and consoles us by giving us the Holy Spirit. We remember that the risen Lord comes to strengthen us in body, mind and spirit during our time of illness.

Today, the Church invites and encourages us to celebrate the sacrament with children and adults who are suffering from a major illness, are facing surgery, serious medical tests or have suffered a serious accident. The Church also celebrates the sacrament with those who suffer with a chronic illness or who suffer from a serious mental illness.

Like all sacraments, the Anointing of the Sick is the prayer of the Church and it is appropriate and important for family members and /or members of the parish to be present during the celebration. The sacrament should be celebrated at the beginning of an illness so that the person to be anointed is able to participate.

To arrange for a Priest to celebrate the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick with a family member please contact the Parish office.

(We would like to thank Catherine Ecker (catherineecker56@gmail.com), who is the principal author.)