Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven. (James 5:14-15)

The Anointing of the Sick is for those in danger of death due to sickness or old age. This Sacrament is also for those undergoing a serious operation. The grace of this Sacrament increases our trust in God; it helps us to unite our sufferings with Jesus' sufferings. If someone in your family or a friend needs to be anointed, please contact Father Loftus, sooner rather than later. It is a great consolation for the suffering and the family.

End of Life Decisions
When a loved one is terminally ill, we may wonder what path we should take medically. On the one hand, we cannot hasten death (euthanasia). On the other hand, we are not required to use extraordinary means when death is imminent. Hospice care (palliative care) is both Christian and ethical. To find Catholic answers to these end-of-life issues (and other ethical questions in the medical field), the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has issued these Ethical Directives.