Illness and suffering have always been among the gravest problems confronted in human life. In illness, man experiences his powerlessness, his limitations, and his finitude. Every illness can make us glimpse death.  Catechism of the Catholic Church, #1500

The ‘Anointing of the Sick’ is not a sacrament only for those who are at the brink of death.

The sacrament of Anointing of the Sick is given to those who are seriously ill by anointing them on the forehead and hands with duly blessed oil – pressed from olives or from other plants – saying, only once: “Through this holy anointing may the Lord in his love and mercy help you with the grace of the Holy Spirit. May the Lord who frees you from sin save you and raise you up.  (Apostolic Constitution Sacram unctionem infirmorum, CCC 1513)

Some other circumstances under which Catholics may receive the Sacrament include:

• Anyone  in danger of death from illness or old age (CCC 1514)
• Anyone with a serious illness (CCC 1515)
• Anyone prior to a serious operation (CCC 1515)
• An elderly person whose frailty has become more pronounced (CCC 1515)

The sacrament may be re-administered if a person who has recovered from an earlier illness suffers from another grave illness (CCC 1515) or if his or her condition becomes more serious in the course of an illness.

The sick person is given many graces from the Holy Spirit through this sacrament. The first is the strength, peace and courage to overcome the difficulties that come with serious illness or the frailty of old age (CCC 1520). It renews faith and trust in God and strengthens the person against the temptations of the evil one (such as to be discouraged and despair in face of death), seeks to heal the soul and also the body if it is God’s will and forgives sins.

A second grace is to participate in the saving work of Jesus through his passion (CCC 1521). By “freely uniting themselves to the passion and death of Christ, the sick contribute directly to the good of the people of God (CCC 1522).

For those at the point of dying, the sacrament of the anointing prepares them for the final journey as a final anointing (CCC 1523). In addition, the Church offers to those who are about to depart, the Sacrament of the Eucharist as a viaticum (CCC 1524). The 3 sacraments – Reconciliation or Penance, the Anointing of the Sick and the Eucharist as viaticum – together complete our earthly pilgrimage (CCC 1525).

For more on the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick please refer to the links provided at the end of this page

Priests are also available for home visits and prayers when the sick person is confined to bed at home.

The priests of parish in the Archdiocese are responsible for the sick within their own parish boundaries. In addition, priests of the churches closest to the main hospitals in Singapore are usually available for any Catholic who are hospitalized and are in need of a priest’s help. They visit the hospitals on a regular basis to bring communion to the sick and if informed they will visit you. To see the list of churches closest to each hospital in Singapore and the contact number of the nearby church please click the button below or visit the list at Archdiocese Hospital Pastoral Care.

In cases of emergency, when a patient is in need of the Anointing of the Sick and a priest from the nearby church is unavailable, any priest who receives a call will go to the hospital or look for a replacement if he is unable to do so. In such a situation, the Priests of St. Anthony’s can be contacted.

The Anointing of the Sick can be administered to any Catholic who is seriously ill and caregivers should not wait until the patient is critically ill or when death is imminent to notify a priest.

Priests are also available for home visits and prayers when the sick person is confined to bed at home.

For Anointing of the Sick or the Sacrament of Reconciliation or Home Communion

Please contact:

*Parish Office Opening Hours:

• 9:00am – 5:00pm (Tuesday to Friday)
• 9:00am – 1:00pm (Saturday & Sunday)

*Closed for lunch (12:30pm – 1:30pm)

Note that the Office is closed on Mondays and Public Holidays.

For more on the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick please visit these links:

1. Archdiocese Webpage on the Anointing of the Sick

2. Archbishop William Goh’s Pastoral Letter on the Anointing of the Sick

3. Catechism of the Catholic Church, Article 5, 1499-1532

For some common FAQs, please visit the first link in this list.