He summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two…They anointed with oil many who were sick and cured them. (Mark 6:7, 13) The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick gives strength and support and can be administered to anyone struggling with an illness.

Requesting Immediate Anointing of the Sick

For St. Monica and the other Parishes in the Eastside Deanery, the fastest and most reliable way to request a Priest is by calling this number: 425-655-3200. You will be connected immediately to a Lay Minister who will get the necessary information, and then contact the On-Call Priest. The Deanery has a Lay Minister and Priests on call at all times, day and night, seven days each week. When anyone calls the special number they will be immediately connected to the person who can get the patient’s information from the caller and who will then contact the On-call Priest.

The Eastside Deanery Pastoral Care Team is experiencing an increasing number of calls for Anointings being made directly to the parish, or to one of the Lay Ministers’ cell phones. This is not the most reliable way to get the on-call Priest to the person needing the anointing. It can, in fact, delay the Priest’s arrival by hours, or even days if a voice mail is left with the parish over the weekend.

About This Sacrament

The “Anointing of the Sick” has been one of the Church’s sacraments from the beginning. (cf. Acts 9:34; 14:3) It was administered to those who were seriously ill. Its effects are spiritual healing and, if it is conducive to the person’s salvation, physical healing as well.

Over the centuries, the sacrament’s use became limited to those near death. The sacrament was then referred to as “Extreme Unction” or “Last Rites.”  After Vatican II, the Church reemphasized the original meaning and intent of the sacrament. (Apostolic Constitution – Sacram unctionem infirmorum)

This means that when you or a loved one is experiencing a serious illness, you are encouraged to request the Anointing of the Sick. You should not wait until the person’s illness has progressed to the point where death is immanent. If the illness continues to progress, the sacrament can be conferred again.

It is also fitting to request the sacrament before a serious operation, and also later in life when one begins to experience the effects of aging.