Through the ministry of the priest, Jesus touches the sick to heal them from sin--and sometimes even from physical ailment during the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.
The Rite of Anointing tells us there is no need to wait until a person is at the point of death to receive the sacrament. A careful judgment about the serious nature of the illness is sufficient.
When the Anointing of the Sick is administered, the hoped-for effect is that the person will be physically healed of illness. Even if there is no physical healing, the primary effect of the sacrament 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. Source: United States Catechism for Adults
Parishioners of St. Joseph Co-Cathedral Parish and those living within our boundaries should call the Parish Office, 985-446-1387, to make arrangements for one of our priests to administer the sacrament.