James 5:14-15: Are any among you sick? They should call for the Priests of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise them up; and anyone who has committed sins will be forgiven."

A sacrament of healing, the Anointing of the Sick was once known as Extreme Unction. The idea behind this sacrament is that we are all members of the body of Christ. When one of us suffers, all of us suffer, and all of God's creation suffers with us. This is a ministry of comfort. Through Anointing, the sick are reminded that Christ and the Church are in communion with their suffering. The Holy Spirit shares the blessings of health, trust in God, and strength against temptation.

The Sacrament of Anointing is not a magic cure for all that ails a person. The terminally ill may or may not receive physical healing, but they will receive spiritual healing.

If you or someone in your family is seriously ill or to undergo a surgery, call a priest. As minister of this sacrament, the priest will lay hands on the head of the sick person, pray, and anoint the sick with oil specially blessed for this occasion. This sacrament can be celebrated more than once. Please call the Parish Offices to request the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick.