Anointing of the Sick and Hospital Admissions

HOLY OILS

If a Catholic ‘begins to be in danger due to sickness or old age’, they can receive the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick, through which God forgives sins and strengthens the person in bearing their illness or infirmity. If you would like to receive this sacrament please contact the parish clergy and they can arrange to visit you. This sacrament should normally, if possible, be celebrated together with the Sacrament of Penance, or confession.

Please bear in mind that the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is not only for those who are in imminent danger of death. If you, or a Catholic relative in the parish, falls seriously ill, please contact the parish clergy  as soon as possible so that arrangements can be made before death becomes imminent.

Also, if you, or a Catholic relative, are admitted to hospital, please ensure that the hospital staff know that the person admitted is a Roman Catholic and wishes to be visited by the Roman Catholic priest. They can then arrange, through the hospital chaplaincy team, for the Catholic priest who serves the hospital, or who is ‘on-call’, to visit.

Watford, Hemel and St Albans NHS Hospital Chaplaincy

On admission to hospital, please ensure that your religion is registered and ask for a visit from hospital chaplaincy team.
Chaplains visit the wards during the week and will organise sacramental and pastoral care for you; they also provide an ‘on-call’ service in case of emergency. Please let Fr Andrew or Fr Matteo know if you or a close relative are in hospital.  Our Catholic Chaplain is Theresa Taylor-Brookes and the contact number for the chaplaincy is 07776 598 704 or 01923 217 994; email: westherts.spiritualcare@nhs.net