Anointing of the Sick
Christ the Physician
Anointing of the Sick is the sacrament which, through the anointing with blessed oil by the priest, and through his prayer to Christ Our Lord, gives health and strength to the soul and sometimes to the body when we are in danger of death from sickness, accident, or old age.
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The effects of the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick are:
an increase of sanctifying grace;
comfort in sickness and strength against temptation;
preparation for entrance into heaven by the remission of our venial sins and the cleansing of our souls from the remains of sin;
health of body when it is good for the soul.
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All Catholics who have reached the age of reason and are in danger of death from sickness, accident, or old age.
We highly suggest getting this sacrament after the diagnosis of a potentially life threatening condition, before going to hospital
If you are not currently in the hospital, please call to set up an appointment to receive this sacrament on a weekday after the 12:10 pm Mass.
If you are in the hospital, please call the Archdiocese’s Catholic Chaplain Corps at 713-747-8445 for a request for Anointing of the Sick and Holy Communion.
Request this Sacrament
If you are not in the hospital, please call our office at 713-222-2289 to set up an appointment to receive this sacrament on a weekday after the 12:10 pm Mass. If you are calling outside of business hours, please leave a voicemail.
If you are in the hospital, please call the Archdiocese’s Catholic Chaplain Corps at 713-747-8445 for a request for Anointing of the Sick and Holy Communion.
End-of-Life Preparations
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Dear Friends,
Periodically I am approached by people who recognize the need to be prepared for their, or their loved one’s, end-of-life. Many of us have questions about how, as a Catholic, one can prepare for end-of-life health care decisions as well as for funeral arrangements, etc..
I do not encourage using the common secular “Advance Directives”, otherwise known as a “Living Will” that are handed out by various secular sources. These are written from a secular world view and in some cases can lean in the direction of going against God’s plan for us as articulated by our holy Mother the Church.
The National Catholic Bioethics Center has a very good resource entitled “A Catholic Guide to End-of-Life Decisions“ which can be purchased online. This publication includes an explanation of Church teachings touching on the topics of advance directives, euthanasia, and physician assisted suicide. It also includes a “Medical Power of Attorney”, a “Health Care Proxy” form, and the “Advance Medical Directive” form.
The Catholic Guide to End-of-Life Decisions may be obtained at the following website:
https://www.ncbcenter.org/store/catholic-guide-to-end-of-life-decisions-english-pdf-downloadAdditionally, resources for helping to prepare for the rites and other arrangements surrounding one’s death and funeral may be found here:
https://www.archgh.org/media/15347/a-planning-guide-for-eol-care-071720.pdfIt is important to be prepared in advance for the sacred event of our passing from this phase of life. These preparations will enable us to express our wishes and ease the burden of our loved ones in their time of loss.
Oremus pro invincem (Let us pray for each other),
Fr. Paul Felix
Pastor -
The Archdiocese has partnered with MyCatholicWill to provide parishioners the opportunity to protect their families by creating a Will for free.
Many of our brothers and sisters – nearly 70% of American adults - have not prepared a Last Will and Testament.
When a loved one passes without a Will, families face significant logistical and financial challenges, only adding to their grief.
To address this need, the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston is sponsoring free access to MyCatholicWill for any family who may benefit.
This initiative reflects our commitment to walk with our Catholic families in every season of life, ensuring their dignity and security.
Through MyCatholicWill, every parishioner can access the website, walk through the questions, and complete a Will – totally free of charge.
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The Archdiocese of Galveston Houston has a list of resources for end-of-life preparations on their webpage.