The Bishop Writes

(From the Oct. 23, 1997 edition of the Inland Register)

A task force for some months has met at Sacred Heart Medical Center to see how better we together might serve the pastoral and sacramental needs of patients. Part of our discussion centered around the need to acquaint people in general with the changes in the church regarding the celebration of the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. Also in the very near future, I will issue a pastoral statement for priests and ministers involved in the pastoral care of the sick.

Jesus’ ministry consisted of constant outreach to the sick and afflicted. The lepers, those possessed by evil spirits, the lame, the blind: these are just a few examples of the object of Jesus’ concern. Many of his miracles involved curing them.

Following the footsteps of Jesus, the Church has always considered ministry to the sick and dying a very important part of her mission. Catholic health care continues that important mission. As Church, we take a holistic approach to such care, using the skills of the medical community to address the physical, emotional, and spiritual care of the person. The Pastoral Care Departments in our Catholic hospitals demonstrate this commitment of care for the whole person. Priests consider ministry to the sick an important part of their pastoral ministry.

As our hospitals become more and more acute care facilities, patients return home more quickly. They may be involved only in outpatient services, such as same-day surgery. In any case, the opportunities for parishes also to become involved in health care ministry have increased considerably. One form of parish ministry beginning to surface around the country, including our own diocese, is the parish nurse program.

A source of some confusion and even anger at times has arisen because of lack of understanding concerning the pastoral dimensions of the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick. There are fewer priests these days. Perhaps a family felt that at their time of greatest need, a priest was not available. In addition, many times the situation could have been taken care of ahead of time with sufficient planning and contacts. Of course, emergency situations will always remain just that: emergencies, unforeseeable incidents of great urgency.

The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick has gone though considerable change since the Second Vatican Council. Before the Council, we called the sacrament Extreme Unction. As its name indicated, the sacrament in those days was normally celebrated in the last moments before death. The priest was even allowed to anoint conditionally an hour or two after death.

The rite was revised extensively to recover the more ancient tradition associating this anointing with pastoral care for the sick than exclusively for the dying.

The official norms for the renewed rite list several circumstances when the sacrament can be properly administered:

• When one of the faithful is seriously impaired by sickness or old age.
• Before surgery whenever a serious illness is the reason for surgery.
• When an elderly person has become notably weakened even though no serious illness is present.
• When a sick child has sufficient use of reason to be strengthened by this sacrament.
• When a person has a serious mental illness and who would be strengthened the sacrament.
• The Catechism of the Catholic Church also specifies that the sacrament is "rightly given to those at the point of departing this life."

Sickness oftentimes brings with it fear and interior struggle. This sacrament is to be a help in aiding the sick person to work through this fear and be comforted by the encounter with the Lord Jesus and the love of the Church. Therefore, there should not be a delay in requesting this sacrament from the pastor. Rather than waiting for the sacrament to be administered in the hospital, the sacrament can appropriately be celebrated beforehand.

Parishes are encouraged to offer communal celebrations of the sacrament of the anointing on a somewhat regular basis. Personally, I have found such celebrations wonderful experiences of faith and community.

Finally, a word should be said about the reception of Holy Communion in the form of Viaticum when death is imminent. Viaticum is appropriately the "last sacrament" and "food for the journey" as the sick person encounters this special journey of great transformation. This moment of intimacy with the Lord Jesus can give tremendous consolation and comfort.

Pastoral care and concern for the sick should be a concern and work for all of us. In a special way, thesacrament helps those who are ill to encounter the loving presence of the Lord Jesus and the Church.

May all of us in whatever way we are able to carry on this wonderful ministry of Jesus through our generosity and presence.

Both the Presbyteral Council and the Diocesan Pastoral Council have reviewed the goal statement arising from the Diocesan Convocation which was held last spring. There was fundamental affirmation of the work of the convocation and the goal statement. Certainly the process was enhanced by the local preparation. I continue to urge you in parishes to use your profiles and the experience of the convocation as a benchmark upon which you choose your future endeavors.

The goal statement reflects the complexity of the life of the diocese. On a diocesan basis and on a local basis, we need to make sure we don’t take too big a bite.

On the other hand, the goal statement calls us to address reality in a way that is humbling. I encourage parishes to do their part in addressing their unique goals. The Diocesan Pastoral Council has requested that we don’t change the goal agenda too quickly as we prepare for the millennium.

May God bless you and give you peace. May we pray for one another.

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