The Sacrament of the Sick (Anointing) is a consecration—a “setting aside”—for God's blessing and protection during a time of sickness.

In this Sacrament, a priest anoints the sick with blessed oil to give strength, hope and healing. The Sacrament is a powerful prayer for physical and spiritual well-being.

A new illness or fragility, or a serious worsening of health enables a person to receive this beautiful Sacrament. Family members and caregivers are urged not to wait until a person is dying to call for a priest to confer the Sacrament of the Sick.

Typically, the Sacrament is not conferred more frequently than every six months.

Mass of Anointing

A special Mass is celebrated twice a year at St. John Chrysostom to confer this Sacrament.

The next Mass of Anointing at St. John's will be at 11:30 a.m. Oct. 13, 2019.

Contact the Parish House (610-874-3418) for more information.

This special Mass includes conferring the Sacrament of the Sick (Anointing) on all who wish to receive it. All those afflicted with physical, mental or emotional sickness, and all who find themselves in a weakened condition due to age are encouraged to attend. This is an opportunity to pray with one another as a community for strength and hope.

Home Visits

Families of parishioners who are unable to attend Mass due to age or illness are encouraged to contact the Parish House (610-874-3418) if the parishioner would like to receive Holy Communion at home. The Parish House will arrange for a priest, deacon or Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist to bring Holy Communion to the parishioner at home as necessary.

Hospital Visits

Parishioners who are scheduled to be hospitalized are encouraged to contact the Parish House (610-874-3418) before admission so the Sacrament can be administered in advance (ideally, in church on the Sunday before hospitalization) and so that we can pray for you.

Families of parishioners who are hospitalized unexpectedly are encouraged to advise the hospital staff that the patient is Catholic and ask them to notify the Catholic chaplain or the Primary Parish for Pastoral Care for the hospital if the patient wishes to receive Holy Communion or the Sacrament of the Sick. Also, contact the Parish House so that we may pray for you.

St. John’s is a Primary Parish for Pastoral Care at Crozer-Chester Medical Center.

• Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist from St. John’s visit and bring Holy Communion to Catholic patients at Crozer-Chester Medical Center on Sundays and Tuesdays.

• Typically, a priest from St. John’s is the on-call priest on Tuesdays at Crozer to confer the Sacrament of the Sick to those who wish to receive it. Priests from neighboring parishes are on call for Anointing on other weekdays.

• St. John’s and neighboring parishes alternate on-call service at Crozer on weekends.

Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Facility Visits

Families of parishioners who become temporary or permanent residents of local nursing homes or rehabilitation facilities are encouraged to contact the Parish House (610-874-3418) so we can pray for you.

Please advise the facility staff that the resident is Catholic and ask them to notify the facility’s Catholic Chaplain or Primary Parish for Pastoral Care if the resident wishes to receive Holy Communion or the Sacrament of the Sick.

• St. John’s is the Primary Parish for Pastoral Care at Wallingford Nursing Home.         Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist from St. John’s visit and bring Holy Communion to Catholic residents at Wallingford Nursing Home at 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays, except the second Tuesday of the month.

• On the second Tuesday of each month, a priest from St. John’s celebrates Mass for Catholic residents at 10:30 a.m. At 11 a.m., Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist from St. John’s bring Holy Communion to Catholic residents who were unable to attend Mass.

• Twice a year, a priest from St. John’s administers the Sacrament of the Sick to Catholic residents who wish to receive it. Our Eucharistic Ministers will advise the residents of this date and time.