Anointing of the Sick

There is quite a bit of confusion and mystery surrounding the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. In many cases, this was once called "extreme unction" or "last rites." In recent years, the Church has moved away from this language, because it suggested that the Sacrament could be recieved only once and that it was to be recieved only in the last moments of life. Neither of these suggestions are true.


The Cathechism puts it this way: "The Anointing of the Sick 'is not a sacrament for those only who are at the point of death. Hence, as soon as anyone of the faithful begins to be in danger of death from sickness or old age, the fitting time for him to receive this sacrament has certainly already arrived.'"

This sacrament is celebrated communally once or twice a year at Columbia Forest Long Term Care Facility and Court at Laurelwood, as well as at a Saturday morning Mass in the parish in the fall. It is also celebrated individually by appointment.