PASTORAL CARE OF THE SICK

& THE DYING

 

What you should know and do

 

                                The Catholic Church has an ancient tradition of caring for the sick, which has its roots in Sacred Scripture:

 Any one of you who is ill should send for the priests of the church, and they must anoint the sick person with oil in the name of the Lord and pray    over him. The prayer of faith will save the sick person and the Lord will raise him up again; and if he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven. (James 5:14-15)

 

1.   In your home, near the sick person, you should have the following:

 

·        a candle (if possible, their baptismal candle),

·        a crucifix,

·        holy water,

·        a religious picture or rosary.

 

These should all be placed on a table with a white cloth on it.

 

2.   The family should do the following:

 

·        pray for the sick person and pray with the sick person.

·        tell the Parish Priest of any deterioration in the sick person's condition.

·         welcome visitors from the Parish and work with the Parish to support the pastoral care of the sick person; ask the Parish Priest to send Holy Communion to the sick person at home.

 

3.   The Parish cares for the sick in the following ways:

 

·        The SVP and the Legion of Mary may make visits to the sick person.

·        Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion visit the sick to bring them Holy Communion if they are housebound and unable to get to Sunday Mass.

·        The Parish Priest visits sick parishioners before Christmas and Easter and during the year when Confession is required or when the sacrament of the sick is required.

 

4.   What you should do if someone in your family is going into hospital:

 

·        If you, or a loved one, is going into hospital, contact your Parish Priest and the hospital chaplain.  Details of how to contact the hospital chaplain are in the Parish newsletter.

·        When in hospital, make sure you tell the nursing staff that you are a Catholic and that you would like the Catholic Chaplain to visit you.

·        Before going into hospital, you can receive the Sacrament of the Sick during Sunday Mass.

 

5.   Sacraments for the sick:

 

You should know and understand the following Sacraments.  Your Parish Priest or the Hospital Chaplain will be able to explain them to you.  You should ask for the following:

 

i.    The Sacrament of the Sick before an operation or if seriously ill.

ii.   The Sacrament of Confession/ Reconciliation for the sick.

iii. The Sacrament of the Eucharist for the Sick.

iv. The Sacrament of the Eucharist as Viaticum for those gravely ill.

 

6.   If a relative or loved one is dying:

 

If someone is about to die, you should ask your Parish Priest (or the hospital Chaplain, if they are in hospital), for the following:

·        The Last Rites for the Dying

·         The Last Rites for those who have died.

 

 

 

Pastoral Notes On The Sacrament Of The Sick Downloadable PDF Document

 

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