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The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is administered on the first Saturday of each month, immediately following the 4:00 pm Mass.
The Pastoral Emergency Number is (716) 688-5678, ext. 1. Please understand that sometimes no priest will be available. Whenever possible, it is best to receive Anointing before death is immanent.
Anointing of the Sick is a Sacrament of Healing instituted by Our Lord, for healing of both body and soul.
In James 5:14-15, we see how the apostolic Church prayed over the sick: “Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders [presbyters] of the Church and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer of faith will save the sick man, and the Lord will raise him up; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.”
The sacrament strengthens the sick person with the peace and courage to face their illness, unites them to the suffering of Christ, and confers forgiveness of sins.
It can also restore health, if conducive to the person’s salvation.
This sacrament is not only for those at the last moments of life. Each time a person falls seriously ill, they can receive the sacrament. As soon as a loved one enters a nursing home or other facility, they should be anointed.
Anointing of the Sick can be received multiple times as a grave illness progresses. It is also fitting to receive Anointing before a serious surgery or as the frailty of old age progresses.
“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” (CCC 1514).
A Catholic may still receive Anointing of the Sick if they are unable to speak or request Anointing for themself. However, it is ideal that the person is still lucid so they can also confess.
The faithful are encouraged to call for a priest while there is plenty of time and they are still well enough to pray.
Do not wait for the last minute, hoping a priest will be available at the hour of death! It is unrealistic with our current priest shortage to expect that a priest can come immediately.Â
It is more important to ensure the sick person is anointed than for family to be present or for the Anointing to happen in the last hours.
Illness becomes a way to conversion; God's forgiveness initiates the healing.
The Sacraments of Penance, Anointing of the Sick, and the Eucharist are “the sacraments that prepare for our heavenly homeland” at the end of our earthly pilgrimage (CCC 1525).
At the Council of Nicaea, the Church Fathers expressed the importance of Last Rites, saying that Catholics at the point of death should not be deprived of Viaticum (Canon 13).