Sacraments of Healing

ANOINTING OF THE SICK

The pastoral care of the sick and dying has always been an integral part of the Church’s mission.

The sacrament is meant for the living.  The anointing of the sick can be administered to a member of the faithful whose health is marked by illness, surgery or old age.  It is important to remember that people are encouraged to receive the sacrament during the early stages of illness.  Do not delay the anointing.  The sacrament can be repeated whenever the sick person again falls into a serious sickness or whenever a more serious crisis develops during the same sickness.  In order to arrange for an individual anointing for a loved one or yourself, please contact the Parish Office.  In hospitals, a chaplain may be requested. 

If an individual anointing is not required at home, in a nursing home or in the hospital, a communal celebration of the anointing of the sick is celebrated once a month during morning liturgy and twice a year at every weekend liturgy.  Watch the parish bulletin for the listings of the communal celebrations.

Parishioners are encouraged to inform the Parish Office whenever a family member is hospitalized so that the priest and other pastoral ministers can visit. 


RECONCILIATION 

Reconciliation offers individuals the opportunity to respond to the invitation of God to on-going conversion in one’s community of faith, receiving God’s merciful pardon for any sins committed.

St. Mary’s provides regular opportunities for participating in the individual and the communal celebration of reconciliation.  Individual reconciliation is celebrated Saturday afternoons at 4 p.m.  Communal celebrations are offered during the Advent and Lenten Seasons with our cluster parishes.    


FIRST RECONCILIATION 

Each year we attempt to help children grow in a deeper understanding and appreciation of the sacrament in accordance with the children’s awareness and growth.  First Reconciliation is offered normally at the fourth grade level or above, through the Christian Formation Program.  There are evenings of preparation for both the children and the parents.