The Care of the Sick, Homebound, and the Dying
This web page contains two articles:
Article 1: General information about the care of the sick and the dying in this parish
Article 2: The Last Sacraments of the Church.
General Information
Parishioners should inform the parish when they or a family member is sick, homebound, or dying.
- Hospital visits at West Branch Regional Center are made to all those registering as Catholic three to four times a week. Visits to the homebound are usually made weekly by parish Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist
- Holy Communion is brought to those in Bortz Health Care in West Branch usually two times a week. Holy Communion is also brought to the assisted living complex (The Brook Retirement Community) once a week.
- Mass is celebrated in the nursing home twice a month.
- The pastor usually visits the hospital once a week. Periodically, the pastor visits those homebound for the celebration of the Sacrament of Penance and the Anointing of the Sick and when requested.
- A communal celebration of the Anointing of the Sick is celebrated semi-annual in the nursing home and annually in the parish. See Schedule of Services on the Home page for more information.
Last Sacraments of the Catholic Church
Nurses, Caregivers and Family members,
In the Sacred Scriptures we read: “Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the church and they should pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith will save the sick person and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven.” James 5: 14-15
As persons intimately connected with seriously ill members of our Catholic Faith, we encourage you to become familiar with our Catholic Rites and help those seriously ill and their families to better understand them and be graced by them. Never hesitate to call upon our parishes to be of assistance to you and to those you assist or care for.
There are numbers of misunderstandings in regard to what are the “Last Rites” of the Catholic Church. Mistakenly, some interpret the word “Last” to mean “within the last hours, minutes and even the last breath whether the person is conscious or not.” This is not the mind of the Catholic Church.
The “Last Rites” are actually for the onset of serious illness and not for the last moments of life. They are grace-filled events to help the seriously ill persons, their family, friends and caregivers to grow in faith through out the serious illness no matter the outcome.
The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick
All of us are called by God to grow in healthy, loving, and caring relationships. Yet, that growth is hindered by the sinful environment into which we are born, the effects of personal sin, as well as sickness and death which have a powerful tendency to prevent growth to wholeness. Jesus came to make possible the overcoming of these negative influences. He forgave and healed the effects of sin. He healed physical sickness. He empowered growth through his Holy Spirit. He is present and active within His Church and its prayers and Sacraments.
As Church, we strive to carry on Jesus’ mission of bringing people to wholeness – not alone, but with him, in him, and through him. Our seven sacraments bring to celebration and ritualize what we endeavor to do as a faith community to carry on the work of Christ
Our sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick brings to celebration, ritualizes, and pledges our ongoing concern and care for those isolated because of serious sickness or infirmity. Our prayer in this sacrament is that they be restored to full service and communion with us. We ask God for holistic health for them, the forgiveness of personal sin and the healing of all sinfulness, as well as physical healing. If death does follow, it stands as a pledge not to forget them but to remember them in prayer.
Still Called to Minister to Others
God does not always answer our prayers as we wish. Through this sacrament those not returned to full health are asked to take on a new role within the faith community. Anointed with the Spirit, they are to model how we can be joined with Christ in his passion, death and resurrection.
Jesus accepted the human condition with its physical suffering and death. He saw dignity, not only in serving others, but in being served. He gratefully accepted Veronica’s offer to wipe his face. He allowed Simon of Cyrene to carry his cross.
Through it all Jesus saw life as worth living. He trusted his Father and put everything into his Father’s hands. Continuing to grow as a loving and caring person right up to the end, he was life-giving even in suffering and death.
In being anointed, those seriously ill or infirmed join the community in prayer for their health and wholeness and for the grace to continue, even in their sickness or infirmity, to reach out to others as Jesus did.
A Community Celebration
The graces and blessings of the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick are not limited just to the seriously ill persons. The celebration of this Sacrament testifies to God’s and the faith community’s concern also for the family, friends and caregivers of the ill person. It serves as God’s and the faith community’s pledge of prayer and support for them in the time of sickness and in the time of mourning if death is God’s will.
Since the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick expresses the faith community’s care and prayer for the seriously sick and infirm and their families and friends, there should always be a community of faith present at the celebration of this Sacrament, except in an extreme emergency. Family, friends and caregivers are encouraged to pray with and for the ill person throughout the illness
The Celebration of the Rite
The heart of the ritual of this sacrament is the laying-on of hands, the anointing of the forehead and palms of the hands with oil, and the prayer of faith.
The laying-on of hands is a very powerful prayer action. Oil is the base of healing balm, both soothing and energizing. Most importantly it signifies the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. And, we believe in the power of prayer made in faith.
When to Ask for the Sacrament
This sacrament is for those who are aware of what is going on and can be strengthened by the scripture reading, the laying-on of hands, the anointing and the prayer made in faith. Only in extreme cases would one receive this sacrament when unconscious. One who refused or made no attempts to receive the sacrament while conscious would not be anointed out of respect for that individual.
Appropriate times and places for this sacrament are at a weekday Mass or even at Sunday Liturgy, anytime at church, or in the family home, the hospital, and in anywhere in emergencies.
The most fitting time for a person to receive this sacrament is at the onset of a serious sickness or infirmity, which ultimately can be life threatening.
For example: (though not limited to these) at the onset of:
- Alzheimer’s disease, disabling emphysema, Parkinson’s
disease, need for dialysis, serious diabetes, pneumonia,
life-threatening cancer or heart disease, stroke.
- when one becomes noticeably weaker or seriously
impaired because of old age, isolating illness, such as
disabling arthritis or multiple sclerosis.
- at the time of a serious accident or pending surgery because of a serious illness.
The sacrament may be repeated if the sick person recovers after being anointed and then again falls ill, or if during the same illness, the person’s condition becomes more serious. The sacrament may also be celebrated periodically (maybe once or twice a year) if the illness or condition continues. Seriously ill children may be anointed if they have sufficient use of reason to be strengthened by this sacrament.
The celebration of this sacrament then is not appropriate for minor or passing sickness, or as a preventative measure. There are other rites and prayer situation for these occasions.
The celebration of the Sacrament of Penance and Holy Communion should be celebrated in conjunction with the Celebration of the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.
The Beginning – Not the End.
The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is not the last rite of the church, but rather a first in its pastoral care of the seriously sick. Having been anointed towards the beginning of a serious illness, the seriously sick person is urged to request frequent reception of Holy Communion and, as desired, the Sacrament of Penance.
The local parish should be contacted so that it may continue to minister to the seriously ill or homebound person and the family.
Food for the Journey
The last Sacrament is the special reception of Holy Communion known as “Viaticum”. It is a special asking of our Eucharistic Lord to accompany the person through death to glorious resurrection. As death becomes imminent, but while still able to receive Holy Communion, the now dying person should ask to receive Viaticum. Again, when possible, it is important that family and friends be present. At this time, it is also appropriate for the dying person to renew his/her baptismal profession of faith and receive the apostolic pardon for the dying. Reception of the Holy Communion after Viaticum is urged as long as the person is able to receive.
As death approaches and the dying person, having been anointed earlier on during the illness, is not able to receive Eucharist, the last Sacrament, the Church’s prayers of Commendation of the Dying are encouraged.