Thank you for your prayers for my stepmother, Mildred. They were heard and answered as she passed away last Sunday morning. The family is till considering funeral arrangements as she has a daughter in California who is not able to travel at this time so they may not plan something until the summer. Again I am so grateful for your prayers. I am also deeply grateful that she was able to bring such joy to my dad for over 16 years of marriage and over 20 years of time spent together. We certainly never thought they would have been together for so long when they announced their marriage plans so many years ago! But as many of you know, having a companion later in life is such a great blessing, especially after a spouse has died. Dad is aware that she has passed but is not really talking much about anything right now, unless it pertains to the present moment, and as far as Mildred is concerned, that is another blessing. He is comfortable and we are just trying to enjoy whatever time we have left with him. Please keep in prayer all those whom I anoint, all the sick of our parish and of our loved ones, and those who share in the cross of Christ through their illness. They will be consoled in the life to come.

Friday was the feast of St. Blaise so we will have the blessing of throats after all the Masses this weekend so feel free to come up for that during the closing song.

Having just anointed a parishioner, I would like to offer a reminder to you regarding what the Church can do for you or a loved one at the time of serious illness or death. First, a distinction between the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick & Last Rites is always helpful as these two rituals were seen as one thing for a number of years but have been separated by the Church in more recent years (actually in the last 50 years or so). The Anointing of the Sick can (& should) be requested by anyone who has a serious illness, whether that be physical, emotional, mental or spiritual. It is one of the 7 sacraments of the Church and finds its biblical basis in the Letter of St. James: “Are there any who are sick among you? Let them send for the priests of the Church and the priests will anoint them with oil.” This is how the early Church celebrated this sacrament for its sick members and we continue to do this today. It is a prayer for healing, which may be answered in a variety of ways by the Lord, either physically or spiritually. It can also be received by those who are “advanced in age” (your call, not mine!). It can be repeated as often as necessary. I can offer this sacrament to you before or after Mass, as I often do at the request of people who have received news of a serious illness or who are facing surgery, so please feel free to ask any time. I am often called to the home of parishioners or go to nursing homes or hospitals to celebrate this sacrament (unless they have a chaplain). 

The Last Rites are simply prayers that are said before or after death as we pray for the soul of the one who has died or expected to die soon and has already received the sacraments. Sometimes a person may be anointed at the same time if they have not been anointed recently (but only if they are still living for the sacraments are only for the living). Confession is offered at this time as well if a person is able to speak. Though the Sacrament of Anointing and the Last Rites are two separate prayers, they can be combined and at one time were always given together in what was called “Extreme Unction” or the anointing of someone in danger of death. But we hope to walk the journey with someone who is ill by anointing them long before death may come. I offer this information in the hope that you will request the Church’s prayers & sacraments in time of need.