Anointing of the Sick

The celebration of the Anointing of the Sick consists essentially in the anointing of the forehead and hands of the sick person, the anointing being accompanied by the liturgical prayer of the celebrant asking for the special grace of this sacrament.(United States Catholic Catechism for Adults, page 253 – 255)

The special grace of the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick has as its effect:·

• The uniting of the sick person to the Passion of Christ, for his own good and that of the whole Church;
• The strengthening, peace and courage to endure in a Christian manner the sufferings of illness or old age;
• The forgiveness of sins, if the sick person was not able to obtain it through the sacrament of Penance;
• The restoration of health, if it is conducive to the salvation of his soul;
• The preparation for passing over to eternal life.

The Anointing of the Sick "is not a sacrament only for those at the point of death. Hence as soon as anyone of the faithful begins to be in danger of death from sickness or old age, the fitting time to receive this sacrament has certainly arrived."

1. In principle, the parish priests are responsible for the sick within their own parish boundaries. In addition, priests of the churches closest to the main hospitals in Singapore are usually available for any hospitalised Catholic who needs a priest's help. They visit the hospitals on a regular basis to bring communion to the sick and if informed, they will visit you. See list below for easy reference:

Alexandra Hospital
Blessed Sacrament

Ang Mo Kio Community Hospital
Christ the King

East Shore Hospital
Holy Family

Gleneagles Hospital
St Ignatius

Mount Elizabeth Hospital
Sacred Heart

Changi General Hospital
Holy Trinity

National University Hospital
Holy Cross (Tuesdays & Fridays)

Singapore General Hospital
St Bernadette (Mondays), St Teresa (Fridays)

Tan Tock Seng Hospital
Novena Church (St Alphonsus)

2. In cases of emergency, when a patient is in need of the Anointing of the Sick and a priest from the nearby church is unavailable, any priest who receives a call will go to the hospital or look for a replacement if he is unable to do so. In such a situation, the priests of St. Mary's can be contacted.

3. The Anointing of the Sick can be administered to any Catholic who is seriously ill or is infirm because of their age. It is advisable that caregivers should not wait until the patient is critically ill or when death is imminent to notify a priest.

4. Priests are also available for home visits and prayers when the sick person is confined to bed at home.

For further enquiries, please contact the Parish Office @ 6567 3866 during office hours (Mon-Fri 9.00am – 5.30pm; Sat 9.00am – 12.30pm, 6.30pm – 7.30pm; Sun 9.00am – 1.30pm)