If you or a loved one is in need of priest to confer the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick because of an emergency situation, please phone the Parish Office immediately at 403-934-2641.  

The sacrament of Anointing of the Sick has as its purpose the conferral of a special grace on the Christian experiencing serious illness, injury or impending death.  The proper time for receiving this holy anointing has certainly arrived when the believer begins to be in danger of death because of illness or old age.  Each time a Christian falls seriously ill, he may receive the Anointing of the Sick, and also when, after he has received it, the illness worsens.

For Other forms of Pastoral Care for the Ill, Injured or Elderly
Would you or a family member like to receive a visit from our Pastoral Care Team? Our parish has an active Pastoral Visiting Team and is available to anyone who wishes a home or hospital visit, and would like to receive Holy Communion. You may make arrangements by contacting Diane Van Bavel or the Parish Office directly, or ask a family member, friend, neighbor or nurse, to contact us on your behalf.
Contact: Diane Van Bavel at 403-934-4282 or Parish Office at 403-934-2641

By the sacred anointing of the sick and the prayer of the priest, the whole Church commends those who are ill to the suffering and glorified Lord, that He may raise them up and save them. And indeed She exhorts them to contribute to the good of the People of God by freely uniting themselves to the Passion and death of Jesus Christ.  (Catechism #1499)

When is the Sacrament Offered?  - In case of serious illness and injury.
The Anointing of the Sick is not a sacrament for those only who are 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 for him to receive this sacrament has certainly already arrived.

If a sick person who received this anointing recovers his health, he can in the case of another grave illness receive this sacrament again. If during the same illness the person's condition becomes more serious, the sacrament may be repeated. It is fitting to receive the Anointing of the Sick just prior to a serious operation. The same holds for the elderly whose frailty becomes more pronounced. (Catechism #1514-1515)

A particular gift of the Holy Spirit. The first grace of this sacrament is one of strengthening, peace and courage to overcome the difficulties that go with the condition of serious illness or the frailty of old age. This grace is a gift of the Holy Spirit, who renews trust and faith in God and strengthens against the temptations of the evil one, the temptation to discouragement and anguish in the face of death.  This assistance from the Lord by the power of his Spirit is meant to lead the sick person to healing of the soul, but also of the body if such is God's will.  Furthermore, "if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven."

Union with the passion of Christ. By the grace of this sacrament the sick person receives the strength and the gift of uniting himself more closely to Christ's Passion: in a certain way he is consecrated to bear fruit by configuration to the Savior's redemptive Passion. Suffering, a consequence of original sin, acquires a new meaning; it becomes a participation in the saving work of Jesus.

An ecclesial grace. The sick who receive this sacrament, "by freely uniting themselves to the passion and death of Christ," "contribute to the good of the People of God."  By celebrating this sacrament the Church, in the communion of saints, intercedes for the benefit of the sick person, and he, for his part, though the grace of this sacrament, contributes to the sanctification of the Church and to the good of all men for whom the Church suffers and offers herself through Christ to God the Father.

A preparation for the final journey. If the sacrament of anointing of the sick is given to all who suffer from serious illness and infirmity, even more rightly is it given to those at the point of departing this life; so it is also called sacramentum exeuntium (the sacrament of those departing).  The Anointing of the Sick completes our conformity to the death and Resurrection of Christ, just as Baptism began it. It completes the holy anointings that mark the whole Christian life: that of Baptism which sealed the new life in us, and that of Confirmation which strengthened us for the combat of this life. This last anointing fortifies the end of our earthly life like a solid rampart for the final struggles before entering the Father's house.  (Catechism #1520-1523)

In addition to the Anointing of the Sick, the Church offers those who are about to leave this life the Eucharist as viaticum. Communion in the body and blood of Christ, received at this moment of "passing over" to the Father, has a particular significance and importance. It is the seed of eternal life and the power of resurrection, according to the words of the Lord: "He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day."  The sacrament of Christ once dead and now risen, the Eucharist is here the sacrament of passing over from death to life, from this world to the Father.

Thus, just as the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist form a unity called "the sacraments of Christian initiation," so too it can be said that Penance, the Anointing of the Sick and the Eucharist as viaticum constitute at the end of Christian life "the sacraments that prepare for our heavenly homeland" or the sacraments that complete the earthly pilgrimage.  (Catechism #1524-1525)