“Those who approach the sacrament of Penance obtain pardon from God’s mercy for the offense committed against him, and are, at the same time, reconciled with the Church which they have wounded by their sins and which by charity, by example, and by prayer labors for their conversion.” – Catechism of the Catholic Church, para. 1422

The Anointing of the Sick is a sacrament of healing that is given when the believer begins to be in danger of death from illness or old age. This sacrament may be administered before surgery and repeated if an illness worsens. In the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick, Jesus, through the priest, touches the sick to give comfort, peace, courage and forgiveness of sins.

This sacrament renews the believer’s confidence and faith in God. It gives the believer God’s grace to strengthen him or her against despair, discouragement and anxiety about death and dying. It also helps sustain the believer’s Christian hope in God’s justice, truth and salvation.

Traditionally, this sacrament was referred to as Extreme Unction or Last Rites. It is administered to the dying along with the sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Eucharist, also called viaticum (Latin for “provision for the journey”).

ANOINTING OF THE SICK AT SACRED HEART OF JESUS

Call the parish office at 303.442.6158 to arrange for a priest to administer the sacrament at your hospital, nursing home or home. In case of an emergency after hours, call our emergency answering service: 303.412.2890.

HOSPITAL, HOMEBOUND or NURSING HOME VISITS

If you or a parishioner you know is homebound and unable to come to church, Holy Communion may be brought to you at home, a nursing home or to the hospital. To arrange for a Eucharistic visitor or a visit from a priest, call the parish office.

ANOINTING MASS

Sacred Heart of Jesus celebrates an Anointing Mass on the first Friday of the month, alternating between the 7 a.m. and 12:10 p.m. Masses for anyone who wishes to receive the Anointing of the Sick.

Learn More

“By the sacred anointing of the sick and the prayer of the priests the whole Church commends those who are ill to the suffering and glorified Lord, that he may raise them up and save them. And indeed she exhorts them to contribute to the good of the People of God by freely uniting themselves to the Passion and death of Christ.”  “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.”  “If a sick person who received this anointing recovers his health, he can in the case of another grave illness receive this sacrament again. If during the same illness the person’s condition becomes more serious, the sacrament may be repeated. It is fitting to receive the Anointing of the Sick just prior to a serious operation. The same holds for the elderly whose frailty becomes more pronounced.” – CCC, para. 1499, 1514-1515

Funerals

When the death of a loved one has occurred, know that the community of Sacred Heart of Jesus is with you during this time of grief and sadness.

Upon the death of a loved one, please ask your funeral home to contact the parish office as soon as possible to schedule the day and time of the funeral liturgy. Once the times for the services are arranged with the funeral home and parish, the family of the deceased may meet with the Sacred Heart funeral coordinator to plan the services. At this meeting, the family is invited to help choose the readings to be used during the Mass and informed of opportunities for family members to participate in the service, music and other important details. We will gently guide you through this planning and answer questions you may have. The coordinator will be present for the funeral Mass to assist you.

If you have lost a loved one or have any questions, please contact the parish office at 303.442.6158 so we can assist you in having your funeral here at Sacred Heart of Jesus.