Anointing of the Sick OLH at St. James
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Sunday, March 3, 2024, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PMOn Sunday, March 3rd, at 2:00 pm at Saint James Church, we will have a deanery-wide Mass with Anointing of the Sick. The Mass satisfies the Sunday obligation for the Third Sunday of Lent. Several priests from our deanery will be present to provide the Sacrament within the context of Mass.
Who may receive the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick? The Church provides this Sacrament “for the faithful whose health is seriously impaired.” The Catechism says, “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.” (1514). That is, the Sacrament may be received by anyone who is seriously ill, especially including the elderly who have become weakened under the burden of years, even though no serious illness may be present. This is the greatest rationale we have for offering this Mass in the deanery. We participate in and promote the Church’s “culture of closeness to the elderly.” (Pope Francis, 4 March 2015).
Certainly, joining in the celebration of this Mass with our elderly and infirm would constitute a great act of mercy on the part of those who are not to receive the Sacrament of Anointing. In exhorting us toward solidarity with the sick and the lonely as corporal works of mercy, our Blessed Lord told us, “Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40). Therefore, Father Mpagi and Father Mobilio encourage as many of the faithful of Our Lady of Hope Parish as possible to attend this Mass in prayerful solidarity with those among us who petition the Church for healing through the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick.
Learn more about this Sacrament HERE
