Anointing of the Sick

The sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick will be administered after the following weekend Masses:

• Saturday, May 25, 2019 - 4:00PM Mass at Our Lady of Fatima, Hopewell Township
• Saturday, May 25, 2019 - 4:30PM Mass at St. Frances Cabrini, Center Township
• Sunday, May 26, 2019 - 10:00AM Mass at St. Titus, Aliquippa
• Sunday, May 26, 2019 - 10:30AM Mass at St. John the Baptist, Monaca

Those who desire anointing are asked to come to the front of church after Mass and sit in every other pew row in order to make it easy for the priest to pass through the empty intervening pews when laying hands and anointing.

By the sacred anointing of the sick and the prayer of the priest, the whole Church commends those who are ill to the suffering and glorified Lord, that He may raise them up and save them. “And indeed he exhorts them to contribute to the good of the People of God by freely uniting themselves to the passion and death of Christ.”

The Anointing of the Sick is not a sacrament just for those at the point of death. Hence, as soon as anyone of the faithful begins to be in danger of death from sickness or old age, the fitting time for him/her to receive the sacrament has certainly already arrived. If a sick person who received this anointing recovers, that same individual upon suffering another grave illness can receive this sacrament again. If during the same illness the person’s condition becomes more serious, the sacrament may be repeated. It is also fitting to receive the Anointing of the Sick just prior to a serious operation. The same holds for the elderly whose frailty becomes more pronounced. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1499, 1514, 1515)

With fewer priests available, it is even more critical than ever to receive this sacrament when it is offered rather than to wait for an emergency situation. That is why this sacrament is made available in the parishes of our parish grouping twice a year as well as upon request.