“When the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is given, the hoped-for effect is that, if it be God's will, the person be physically healed of illness. But even if there is no physical healing, the primary effect of the Sacrament is a spiritual healing by which the sick person receives the Holy Spirit's gift of peace and courage to deal with the difficulties that accompany serious illness or the frailty of old age.”
~from the United States Catholic Catechism for Adults
Although the sacrament has been understood this way for many decades, the Anointing of the Sick is not a sacrament only for those who are near death. Anointing is for people of all ages (including children) who are suffering from serious or terminal illness, preparing to face a surgery, dealing with a mental illness or addiction, or of old age and/or frail condition. Through this sacrament, the entire Church asks God to lighten your sufferings, forgive your sins, and bring you to eternal salvation.
If you or a member of your family would like to share in the grace of this healing sacrament, simply call the rectory at (908) 322-5192, and a priest would be happy to visit with the sick person and celebrate the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.