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Anointing the Sick

The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick gives strength and support and can be administered to anyone struggling with an illness. It is offered two times a year during a weekend liturgy. When needed, parishioners or next of kin family members of parishioner are encouraged to contact Fr. Jean at jgonzalez@annunciationky.org or call the parish office at 502.633.1547. We respect HIPPA's patients confidentiality laws, please no third party calls. 

 

WHO MAY RECEIVE?

In the Catholic Church, Extreme Unction or the Last Rites is the anointing at the time of death. Since the Second Vatican Council, this sacrament is now called the Anointing of the Sick and has been broadened to offer healing and comfort in times of illness that may not lead to immediate death. Speaking about a wider implementation of this sacrament, Pope Paul VI advocated for “a wider availability of the sacrament and to extend it—within reasonable limits—even beyond cases of mortal illness."

Unlike the traditional understanding of the Last Rites, the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is, ideally, to be administered in a communal celebration.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that when the sick are anointed they should be "assisted by their pastor and the whole ecclesial community, which is invited to surround the sick in a special way through their prayers and fraternal attention" (1516). "Like all the sacraments the Anointing of the Sick is a liturgical and communal celebration…It is very fitting to celebrate it within the Eucharist" (1517).

SPIRITUAL HEALING

The healing that occurs in this sacrament of anointing is not necessarily physical healing. While we believe that physical healing can occur through the great power of God, the grace that is infused through this special sacrament is the reminder of the eternal presence of God in our human suffering.

When the priest blessing the oil of anointing, he asks God to "send the power of your Holy Spirit, the Consoler, into this precious oil. Make this oil a remedy for all who are anointed with it; heal them in body, in soul and in spirit, and deliver them from every affliction" (Pastoral Care of the Sick, #123).

"The celebration of the Anointing of the Sick consists essentially in the anointing of the forehead and hands of the sick person (in the Roman Rite) or of other parts of the body (in the Eastern rite), the anointing being accompanied by the liturgical prayer of the celebrant asking for the special grace of this sacrament" (CCC 1531).

 

FUNERALS

The Church of the Annunciation Funeral Procedures

A. General Information

  1. Contact your Funeral Home first.
  2. Provide to your Funeral Home with Fr. Jean's e-mail: jgonzalez@annunciationky.org
  3. Your Funeral Home will contact Fr. Jean by e-mail to verify Church's availability.
  4. Funerals' times are at 12 noon. 
  5. A funeral takes over 2.5 hours including procession from the Funeral Home to the Church, Church to Cemetery Burial, and Cemetery to place of Bereavement.

B. Funeral Liturgy

  1. Music
    1. Fr. Jean will meet with family members after the "Gathering in the Presence of the Body" at the Funeral Home for music planning. It will occur during visitation hours.
    2. Deacon of the parish will lead the "Vigil Service" at the Funeral Home at proper time.
    3. Secular music will not be permitted at Church. You can use secular music at the Funeral Home during visitation and/or at the Bereavement lunch.
    4. Pastor will contact the Music Director.
    5. The Music Director will contact a Cantor of the parish. 
    6. Cantors must be from our Parish. There are not exceptions. If you would like that a friend of the family sing, please use them at the funeral home or cemetery.

C. Readings

  1. Given that Funerals take place during the daily liturgy, the readings used at the Funerals are the readings of the day. Pastor will provide copies to family after the gathering.
  2. The readings can be found in our parish webpage: www.annunciationky.org, under parish council, parish faith, readings of the day. Also, they are posted in the USCCB website as www.usccb.org/nab.
  3. We will need one lector, and two extraordinary eucharistic ministers approved by the Archdiocese of Louisville for the Mass. During a pandemic this will not be necessary.

D. Eulogy

  1. If the Family wishes to prepare a Eulogy, it must be delivered at the Funeral Home or at the Cemetery.
  2. Because of limited time, Eulogies has not been part of the Mass of Resurrection in the Catholic Church.

E. Bereavement

  1. Bereavement is reserved to parishioners.
  2. If you wish a bereavement lunch, please inform it to the Funeral Home.
  3. The pastor will contact the Parish Bereavement Committee for the planning.

F. Priest Visitors

  1. Brother priests are welcome to concelebrate and preach in our parish.  It is the right of the Pastor to preside at the funeral.

G. Priest's Visitation

  1. Pastor will visit with family and friends as soon as visitation begins or before the body will be transferred to the Church,  if schedule allows him to do so.

H. Catholic Teachings on Cremation

1. Please click on HERE.