A LETTER FROM FR. SEAN: ANOINTINGS AND END-OF-LIFE SACRAMENTS

We have heard in the Gospel that Jesus healed many people. Christ continues to heal people today and prepare them for eternal life through the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick.

Each time I anoint someone, all who are present are reminded of the words from St. James, “Are there people sick among you? Let them send for the priests of the Church, and let the priests pray over them anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. The prayer of faith will save the sick persons, and the Lord will raise them up. If they have committed any sins, their sins will be forgiven them.” (James 5:14-16)

When I first came to Kenosha, I would go to the hospital frequently since our parishes were nearby. Back then, staff members all recognized that the Anointing of the Sick was something important. Upon seeing a priest, hospital staff were helpful toward the patients I would visit as well as advocating for others who had no one else.

Frequently, I would arrive to specifically visit one person and end up seeing many more. The staff would stop me and ask something like this: “Since you are here for the patient in Room 110, would you stop and see the patient in Room 114, as well, since they are Catholic?”

Today, not only are the hospitals physically located great distances from our parishes, but most of their staff members have no idea that I am a priest (even though I conspicuously wear a cassock), what that means, and do not know nor understand what Catholics believe - including the importance of the sacraments.

Furthermore, the need nor the ability to be anointed does not cross the minds of most patients’ family members today. I think it is extremely important to know that you may not be able to depend on others, including your own family, to be well-versed and knowledgeable about these things as they once were.

If you know you have a scheduled surgery, you should arrange to be anointed beforehand to make sure God can heal and help. Please feel free to email me to arrange to be anointed ([email protected]) so that God can continue His good work.

Also, if death is imminent, do not wait until the very last moments, as I may not be able to get there in time. If someone is actively dying or needs end-of-life sacraments, please call the emergency line as soon as you are able (262-657-1157 ext. 0).

Please let me know the name of the individual needing the sacrament, where I should go to administer the sacraments to the individual (including which hospital, room number, can they receive Holy Communion, etc.), background on the situation, and how to contact the person making the request.

I am humbled and grateful to be able to administer these sacraments to the parishioners of the Downtown Kenosha Catholic parishes and give His comfort to those who are sick and dying.

~ Fr. Sean