PASTOR'S MESSAGE
January 16-17, 2021 - 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Holy Family Parish will offer the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick DURING the 5pm Mass on Saturday, January 23rd IN THE CHURCH and DURING the 8:45am Mass IN THE HALL on Sunday, January 24th. Here is some information about this sacrament:
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Holy Family Parish will offer the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick DURING the 5pm Mass on Saturday, January 23rd IN THE CHURCH and DURING the 8:45am Mass IN THE HALL on Sunday, January 24th. Here is some information about this sacrament:
We hear in the Letter of James: "Are there anyone sick among you? Let them send for the priests of the Church." (James 5: 13-15) In that passage the priests are to pray over and anoint with oil the sick.
Also, in the Gospels Jesus laid hands on the sick and anointed them with oil. So, this sacrament simply grew out of the early apostles WATCHING WHAT JESUS DID and following his example.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church #1499 states: "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.” (quoting from Lumen Gentium, Vatican II)
Anointing of the Sick serves to strengthen those who are being tried by advanced age or physical, psychological or spiritual illness. The sacrament, in past years, was usually reserved for use when a person was feared to be dying. This is no longer the case. The reception of the sacrament is for baptized members of the Church who are at least seven years of age.
The Sacrament of the Sick normally involves the priest (and others) placing their hands on the sick person in prayer. Then the imposition of the Oil of the Sick, which is olive oil blessed by the bishop on Monday of Holy Week, on the forehead and hands. This year I will pray over the sick from a distance of 6 feet and then when imposing the oil, will do so with a separate cotton ball for each person (after use on one person, the ball will be discarded and a new one will be used for the next person). We’ll also have the sick come up as they would for communion for the imposition of the Oil so that there is no crowd in the front of the Church. They will stay in-place for the other prayers.
Christ laid hands or touched those who He healed in the Bible. The apostles and the Church later took on the healing ministry of Jesus with the help of the Holy Spirit. We see that early Christians who were sick looked to be prayed over and anointed with oil by the leaders of the Church in James, chapter five (which is quoted above).
The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is to give God’s grace to the person receiving the sacrament. Spiritual wellness, forgiveness of sins, and the possibility of physical healing. One receives the particular gift of the Holy Spirit, one receives the grace conferred by the prayer of the Church, and one can ask for the grace to have one’s suffering united to that of Christ.
The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick may be repeated as is necessary. This is especially true in the case of a prolonged or lingering illness.
Please know, as a general note, that I am visiting the sick and doing Last Rites for those who are near their passing to the next life at this time. If you call the parish office any time, you’ll get instructions for an extension to reach me. It’s always good to call ahead of time whenever possible, and not to wait until the last minute in case I may not be immediately available at the moment you call.
Please remember that we are inviting parishioners to bring CANDLES FROM HOME to the Church to be blessed on the weekend of January 30-31 this year in anticipation of the Feast of the Presentation/Candlemas Day on February 2, the traditional day to bless candles.
We are also inviting parishioners to bring in containers of water (Tupperware or whatever) on the weekend of February 13-14 and we’ll BLESS THAT WATER so that you can have holy water in your home since we can’t keep a big container here for multiple people to access on-campus.
Peace,
Fr. Andy
Also, in the Gospels Jesus laid hands on the sick and anointed them with oil. So, this sacrament simply grew out of the early apostles WATCHING WHAT JESUS DID and following his example.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church #1499 states: "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.” (quoting from Lumen Gentium, Vatican II)
Anointing of the Sick serves to strengthen those who are being tried by advanced age or physical, psychological or spiritual illness. The sacrament, in past years, was usually reserved for use when a person was feared to be dying. This is no longer the case. The reception of the sacrament is for baptized members of the Church who are at least seven years of age.
The Sacrament of the Sick normally involves the priest (and others) placing their hands on the sick person in prayer. Then the imposition of the Oil of the Sick, which is olive oil blessed by the bishop on Monday of Holy Week, on the forehead and hands. This year I will pray over the sick from a distance of 6 feet and then when imposing the oil, will do so with a separate cotton ball for each person (after use on one person, the ball will be discarded and a new one will be used for the next person). We’ll also have the sick come up as they would for communion for the imposition of the Oil so that there is no crowd in the front of the Church. They will stay in-place for the other prayers.
Christ laid hands or touched those who He healed in the Bible. The apostles and the Church later took on the healing ministry of Jesus with the help of the Holy Spirit. We see that early Christians who were sick looked to be prayed over and anointed with oil by the leaders of the Church in James, chapter five (which is quoted above).
The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is to give God’s grace to the person receiving the sacrament. Spiritual wellness, forgiveness of sins, and the possibility of physical healing. One receives the particular gift of the Holy Spirit, one receives the grace conferred by the prayer of the Church, and one can ask for the grace to have one’s suffering united to that of Christ.
The Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick may be repeated as is necessary. This is especially true in the case of a prolonged or lingering illness.
Please know, as a general note, that I am visiting the sick and doing Last Rites for those who are near their passing to the next life at this time. If you call the parish office any time, you’ll get instructions for an extension to reach me. It’s always good to call ahead of time whenever possible, and not to wait until the last minute in case I may not be immediately available at the moment you call.
Please remember that we are inviting parishioners to bring CANDLES FROM HOME to the Church to be blessed on the weekend of January 30-31 this year in anticipation of the Feast of the Presentation/Candlemas Day on February 2, the traditional day to bless candles.
We are also inviting parishioners to bring in containers of water (Tupperware or whatever) on the weekend of February 13-14 and we’ll BLESS THAT WATER so that you can have holy water in your home since we can’t keep a big container here for multiple people to access on-campus.
Peace,
Fr. Andy