Anointing of the Sick

One of the signs that the Kingdom of God breaking into this world was Jesus' healing of the sick. That ministry of Jesus has been extended through space and time in the Church's sacrament of the anointing of the sick. This grace of this sacrament helps the sick person carry their cross with Christ sustaining them in their illness. The anointing is a reminder of Jesus' special love and concern for those experience the brokenness of the human condition. A person does not have to be in danger of death. Anyone facing surgery, who has a chronic health impairment, or is experiencing some temporary serious illness is invited to arrange to celebrate the sacrament with our pastor.

Anyone entering a health care facility or preparing for elective medical procedures is asked to schedule this Sacrament through the pastor prior to admission., although he will be glad to celebrate the sacrament with the sick person at the hospital or nursing home. This Sacrament can be celebrated by individuals after one of the weekend liturgies, during a weekday Mass or it can be arranged with the pastor for any time at church or in the home.

Anointing of the Sick in an emergency is available at any time. Please, call the pastor outside of office hours at his residence phone 618-224-2636.

Our pastor attempts to celebrate the anointing of the sick once or twice a year with the residents of the assisted living facility in Trenton in the autumn and around the day of prayer for the infirm (around February 11).

A communal celebration of Anointing of the Sick is held once a year on a weekend during the Vigil and Sunday Masses. The date will be announced on this website, on our FaceBook page and in the parish bulletin.