Anointing of the Sick

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

• Saturday, October 26, 2019 at 4:00PM - Our Lady of Fatima
• Saturday, October 26, 2019 at 4:30PM - St. Frances Cabrini
• Sunday, October 27, 2019 at 10:30AM - St. John the Baptist
• Thursday, October 31, 2019 at 4:00PM - St. Titus

Those who wish to be anointed are asked to come to the nave (main front section of the church) at the conclusion of Mass and sit in every other pew.  This will make it easier for the priest to walk through the empty intervening pew as he administers the sacrament, prayerfully laying his hands and anointing each person.

The Anointing of the Sick is NOT a sacrament only for those who are at the point of death.  Indeed, for any member of the Faithful who begins to be in danger of death from sickness or old age, the fitting time to receive this sacrament has certainly already arrived.  If a sick person who received this anointing recovers, can receive this sacrament again if struck with another grave illness in the future.  Also, if during the continuation of same illness the person’s condition becomes more serious, the sacrament may be repeated.  It is 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 more critical than ever to receive this sacrament when it is offered, rather than to wait for an emergency situation when a priest may not be available.  That is why it is scheduled to be offered throughout our parish grouping twice a year (May and October) as well as upon request.

By the sacred Anointing of the Sick and the prayers of the priests, 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, the Church exhorts those anointed to contribute to the good of the People of God, by freely uniting themselves to the passion and death of Christ.