Dear Friends:
One of the most beautiful and most misunderstood sacraments of the Church is the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. Referred to as “Extreme Unction” (or the anointing given in the last moments of life) before Vatican II, the name was changed by Vatican II to reflect a new understanding of this sacrament. It is a sacrament for the sick, for those who are seriously ill, as well as for those who suffer from age-related weakness or even mental illness. It is not primarily a sacrament for the dying. In the mind of the Church, this sacrament should be celebrated normally when the sick person is conscious and able to take part in the celebration, which can also include the Sacrament of Reconciliation (confession) and the reception of Holy Communion. The purpose of the sacrament is to bring peace, serenity, a deeper trust in God and a deepened hope. It can also heal, but in most cases the healing is spiritual in nature. The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is a continuation of the ministry Jesus extended to those who were sick and Jesus himself commissioned his Church to care for the sick.
All of this being said, some points are in order:
The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick can be administered only by a validly ordained Catholic Priest. It cannot be given by deacons, nurses, physicians or even hospice chaplains. It is, therefore, crucial that provision be made that a priest be called to give the sacrament once a person’s medical condition has become serious, where death seems possible. Once a person is admitted into hospice care, the priest should be called so that, again, the sick person may participate fully in the celebration. It is not wise to wait until the point of death for two reasons. First, there may not be a priest readily available, and second, the sick person may not be able to participate as he or she should.
The Priests of this parish are responsible for visiting the sick at home, in nursing facilities, and at the Milford campus of Bridgeport
Hospital. We cover the hospital five of the seven days each week. The proper procedure, if in the hospital, is to arrange for the nurse or the pastoral care minister to call the rectory for one of the priests to come. Given the lingering effects of the pandemic, it is not always easy to get into health care facilities. If a loved one is in Bridgeport Hospital itself, Yale New Haven Hospital or the St. Vincent’s Medical Center, it is the duty of the priest chaplain in those facilities to anoint patients, not parish priests. If a loved one is in a nursing facility in Fairfield County, anywhere across the Housatonic River, then a priest from that locale should be called, as it is outside the Archdiocese of Hartford and the priests of our parish do not have faculties to minister there, nor do we have a letter of suitability required by the bishops in connection with the Charter for the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults.Once the sacrament is celebrated, it need not be repeated unless the sick person recovers and then later experiences a sharp decline in his or her health. The late Father Thomas Gaffney, a much loved priest who served at St. Mary’s for many years and also served as a hospital chap-lain, once told me that, as a general rule, the Sarament of the Anointing of the Sick was considered in effect for a three-month period. In any case, should you feel a need to celebrate the sacrament, contact one of the priests and we will do whatever we can.
Finally, if anyone is going into the hospital for major surgery or has received a diagnosis of serious illness, such as cancer, heart disease, and dementia to name a few, please do not hesitate to call and ask for the sacraments. We will be glad to come to your home, to meet you in the rectory, or to celebrate them with you after any Mass. If you wait until you go into the hospital, especially with same-day surgery, a priest may not be available.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to speak with me.