Anointing of the Sick
When a Catholic is at the hospital, there are Catholic chaplains who provide daily pastoral care (counseling and the administration of the sacraments). For an updated list of individual chaplains to the hospitals and their contact information, please visit Saint Francis Medical Center, or call 310-900-8514. You may always call our parish offices for the sacrament if the person is at home. This sacrament does not have to be given only near death, but may be received when there is serious illness.
At Saint Emydius Church, the Anointing of the Sick is available upon request. Call the Rectory at 310 637-7095.
Here are commonly asked questions about Anointing of the Sick:
Q: Who should receive the Anointing of the Sick?
A: Anyone who is ill, about to have or has had surgery, the chronically ill, those suffering terminal or other illnesses.
Q: When should the Anointing of the Sick be administered?
A: It is not necessary to wait until a person is dying before calling a priest. The
Anointing of the Sick “is not a sacrament for those only who are at the point of
death.” Catechism of the Catholic Church #1514 pg. 421.
It is not necessary to wait until just before surgery to call. You may call at any time
there is a serious illness. When you are planning a surgery, you may call to have
the sacrament administered before going to the hospital.
Q: I have had the anointing in the past, and I am ill again (or need another surgery, etc.)
May I have the Anointing of the Sick again?
A: If it has been a while and you are experiencing another illness, you may receive the
sacrament again.
When a Catholic is at the hospital, there are Catholic chaplains who provide daily pastoral care (counseling and the administration of the sacraments). For an updated list of individual chaplains to the hospitals and their contact information, please visit Saint Francis Medical Center, or call 310-900-8514. You may always call our parish offices for the sacrament if the person is at home. This sacrament does not have to be given only near death, but may be received when there is serious illness.
At Saint Emydius Church, the Anointing of the Sick is available upon request. Call the Rectory at 310 637-7095.
Here are commonly asked questions about Anointing of the Sick:
Q: Who should receive the Anointing of the Sick?
A: Anyone who is ill, about to have or has had surgery, the chronically ill, those suffering terminal or other illnesses.
Q: When should the Anointing of the Sick be administered?
A: It is not necessary to wait until a person is dying before calling a priest. The
Anointing of the Sick “is not a sacrament for those only who are at the point of
death.” Catechism of the Catholic Church #1514 pg. 421.
It is not necessary to wait until just before surgery to call. You may call at any time
there is a serious illness. When you are planning a surgery, you may call to have
the sacrament administered before going to the hospital.
Q: I have had the anointing in the past, and I am ill again (or need another surgery, etc.)
May I have the Anointing of the Sick again?
A: If it has been a while and you are experiencing another illness, you may receive the
sacrament again.
