Caring for the Sick and Housebound

Holy Communion

At any one time, seventy or more parishioners are on our ‘Sick Communion List’. Communion is brought to the sick and housebound in their homes once a week by our team of Lay Ministers of Communion, usually from the Mass they have just attended. This keeps people who cannot get to Mass closely united with the parish community as we worship together. Please let us know if you or someone at home cannot get to Mass and would like to receive Communion at home.

Anointing of the Sick

This great sacrament used to be called ‘Extreme Unction’, and was generally reserved to people who were close to death. This is no longer the case. The Church has reaffirmed full Catholic doctrine on this anointing, which is a sacrament for people who are seriously weakened through illness or old age. The sacrament brings strengthening, peace and courage in the midst of suffering, and healing of spirit, mind and body when helpful to a person’s salvation. Please do not hesitate to call a priest as soon as a person is seriously ill or weakened in some way, or about to undergo a major operation. Through this sacrament, Christ expresses his loving care for the sick, touching their lives with his grace.

Into Hospital?

If you or one of your family goes into hospital, please let the priests know immediately. Our priests and deacons visit the Kent and Sussex Hospital regularly, covering the hospital almost every day. We also have a special team of parishioners who visit the Kent and Sussex, particularly when our priests or deacons are away. It is especially important that you let us know of admissions to the Nuffield and BUPA Hospitals. We are always ready to make the sacraments available to you: Communion, Reconciliation/Confession, the Anointing of the Sick.

Mass with the Anointing of the Sick

Each year, on a Sunday close to the World Day of Prayer for the Sick, we have an afternoon Mass at which the Sacrament of Anointing is given to parishioners who are seriously sick or weak through old age. Registration forms are made available for several weeks beforehand.

Mass for Healing

Once or twice a year on a Friday evening, there is a Mass with prayer for healing. At the end of Mass, anyone is invited to come forward for the laying-on-of-hands by one of the priests, an ancient gesture of prayer for the coming of the Holy Spirit. Each of us needs healing of one kind or another: healing in our relationship with God and with one another, healing in mind, in body and in spirit. The Mass is the great sacrament of healing, and each celebration can bring us God’s gifts of healing and renewal, reconciliation and peace.