requesting anointing of the Sick

Anointing of the sick is one of the seven Sacraments of the Church, and it is a sacrament of healing (the second one being confession/reconciliation) where the priest prays over the individual and then places holy oil on the forehad and on the palm of both hands. It used to be called "extreme unction" and it was administered to the person at the time near death. However, anointing of the sick is now administered to anyone who is battleing with an illness, be it physical or mental, a pregnamt woman close to birth, or before a major surgery. The person receiving the sacrament must be a Catholic within the age of reason, and does not need to be conscious at the time of reception of the sacrament. 

From the USCCB:

In the Church's Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, throughthe 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.

Anointing of the sick can be done at the church, in the hospital, or at the residence of where the individual is residing. If you live within the Kent area and would like to request anointing of the sick for yourself or someone, please contact our parish office by:

Call our office or submit the form bellow.