"In the Church's Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, through the ministry of the priest, it is Jesus who touches the sick to heal them from sin – and sometimes even from physical ailment. His cures were signs of the arrival of the Kingdom of God. The core message of his healing tells us of his plan to conquer sin and death by his dying and rising.
The Rite of Anointing tells us there is no need to wait until a person is at the point of death to receive the Sacrament. A careful judgment about the serious nature of the illness is sufficient.
When the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is given, the hoped-for effect is that, if it be God's will, the person be physically healed of illness. But even if there is no physical healing, the primary effect of the Sacrament is a spiritual healing by which the sick person receives the Holy Spirit's gift of peace and courage to deal with the difficulties that accompany serious illness or the frailty of old age."
The Sacrament of Anointing is given not only to those who are near the point of death, but also to those who are seriously ill or about to undergo surgery. The sacrament may be administered individually or communally, in a home, hospital or church. Communal anointing masses are celebrated yearly.
To inquire about individual anointing, please contact the Parish Office at 203-227-1341 or email [email protected].
Do you know of someone who is infirm and/or homebound and would like a home visit? I would like to visit our homebound/hospitalized parishioners regularly, so if you know of someone who would like a visit, please let me know by calling the parish office during business hours or send me an email at [email protected].
Please put “Homebound Visit” in the subject line. You may also call me at 203-227-1341, ext. 128. --Fr. Augustine