Anointing of the Sick
The Catechism of the Catholic Church Reads:
We are pleased to be able to offer the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. Only those who are seriously ill should seek this sacrament, but they ought not wait until they are near death.
1513 The Apostolic Constitution Sacram unctionem infirmorum, following upon the Second Vatican Council, established that henceforth, in the Roman Rite, the following be observed:
The sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is given to those who are seriously ill by anointing them on the forehead and hands with duly blessed oil – pressed from olives or from other plants – saying, only once: “Through this holy anointing may the Lord in his love and mercy help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit. May the Lord who frees you from sin save you and raise you up.”[1][1]
We are pleased to be able to offer the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. Only those who are seriously ill should seek this sacrament, but they ought not wait until they are near death. It is better to receive the sacrament at the onset of a serious illness than to risk waiting for the moment of death. It is not necessary to receive the sacrament more than once during an illness, but as one approaches the end of life, it is beneficial to make arrangements to receive the sacraments of reconciliation and Eucharistic communion as viaticum.
We regularly offer the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick after the morning mass on the 1st Saturday of the month. Also, if you become suddenly ill or are facing a major unexpected surgery, you can call the office or speak to a priest to make arrangements to receive the sacrament.
In the case of an emergency, priests are “on-call” and will respond as soon as they are able. Please phone the office, and if it is after office hours, please follow the voicemail prompt, which will transfer you to an answering service, which will contact the on-call priest.
For more reading on the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, please see the Catechism of the Catholic Church.