Parish celebration of Our Lady of Lourdes and the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick
Our Lady of Lourdes Celebration and the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick
PARISH CELEBRATIONS OF THE SACRAMENT
In 1992, Pope John Paul II introduced the celebration of the World Day of the Sick on the
Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. This annual celebration gives people a chance to pray for and
deepen their solidarity with the sick and injured among us.
Each year, on a weekend close to the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes (February 11th),
parishes are encouraged to schedule opportunities for parishioners to celebrate the
sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.
Our parish will celebrate the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick at all
the Sunday Masses on the weekend of February 11/12, 2012.
Many people may remember a time in the Church when a priest would be called to administer the sacrament when
someone was at the brink of death. Since Vatican II, our understanding of the Sacrament of Anointing the Sick
has grown, and we have come to realize the importance of celebrating this sacrament at the onset of a serious
illness, with family members and friends surrounding the person who is sick. The sacramental celebration helps to
strengthen the sick person with God\'s grace, to help them through the illness. (At the end of a person\'s life,
when possible, a person may receive the Eucharist, as food for their journey home to God.) When you, or someone
you love, is struggling with illness or about to undergo surgery or difficult treatments, please call the Rectory to
request the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick.