Anointing of the Sick
Through this sacrament, Christ comes to those who are seriously ill or weakened by age, bringing strength, peace and the grace of His healing love.
Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.James 5:14
Need a priest urgently?
If someone is seriously ill or near death, please call the parish right away so a priest can come. Don’t wait: it’s always better to call early.
Christ’s healing touch
The priest anoints the sick person with blessed oil and prays over them, as the apostles did.
Calling a priest
When someone is sick at home or in hospital, it is normal to ask a priest to come and pray with them. He can then see which sacraments will help them most.
Home & nursing homes
- 1Call the parish office as soon as you can.
- 2Let us know the person’s name, where they are, and how serious it is.
- 3A priest will visit to pray, hear confession, anoint and bring Holy Communion if possible.
Hamilton hospitals
Hospitals in Hamilton always have a priest on call for emergencies.
- 1Ask the nurse or staff to call the Catholic priest on call.
- 2Let the parish know too, so we can pray for them and visit when possible.
Is this sacrament for me?
Anointing is not only for the very end of life. It may be received by:
- The seriously ill, whose life is in danger because of sickness
- The elderly, whose strength is noticeably failing
- Before serious surgery, for a dangerous illness
- Again, if an illness worsens or a new serious illness arises
Common questions
Don’t wait
Please don’t hesitate to call, even well in advance, so that no one dies suddenly without the grace of the sacraments.
What are the “Last Rites”?
For the dying, the priest offers Confession, the Anointing, and Holy Communion as Viaticum, “food for the journey.”
Can’t come to Mass?
If you or a loved one are homebound, please contact the parish to let us know.
Need a priest?
Call the parish office and we’ll come to you.