25/04/2026
๐ **A Beautiful Day of Healing at Our Lady's** ๐
What a truly grace-filled morning here at Our Lady's! Today, members of the St Vincent de Paul Society organised a wonderful Healing Mass for the sick.
Fr Daniel laid hands on those who came forward, calling down the Holy Spirit upon them before anointing those who wished to receive this powerful sacrament.
Following the Mass the SVP members prepared a lunch for all which went down very well, particularly the laden dessert table! ๐ฝ๏ธโค๏ธ
A huge thank you to Fr Daniel, Deacon Peter and all the SVP members whose tireless work and generous hearts made this day possible. You are truly the hands and feet of Christ.
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**โ๏ธ What is the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick?**
The Anointing of the Sick is one of the seven sacraments of the Catholic Church, bringing spiritual healing, strength, and God's grace to those who are seriously ill, preparing them to face suffering with peace.
When the sacrament 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 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.
Who can receive it? Any baptised Catholic who is seriously ill and has sufficient reason to be comforted by the sacrament may receive it. The Catechism is clear: "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" (CCC 1514). Unlike Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Orders, and Matrimony, there is no limit on the number of times one can receive the Anointing of the Sick.
If you or a loved one is seriously ill, don't wait โ speak to Fr Daniel or contact the parish office. This sacrament is a gift from Christ Himself. ๐
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*"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." โ James 5:14*
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