The Sacrament of A Filled
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ost of us have witnessed a Bapand I just felt lighter, I felt more faithtism, a wedding or a Confirful,” Kathy says. “All of a sudden, I mation Mass. Perhaps you’ve couldn’t think about how sick I even been present at a priest was — I just thought about my or deacon’s Ordination faith. Mass. And, as practicing “It does bring me closer Catholics, we are blessed to God and it is a very faithto receive the Sacraments filled experience,” she adds. of Reconciliation and the “I am grateful to have been Eucharist. However, there blessed those times I was is one of the seven sacsick, it was just a huge gift raments with which the from God.” majority of Catholics are far Anointing of the Sick, less familiar — Anointing of along with Reconciliation, is a the Sick. Sacrament of Healing. Although You may recognize this sacthe healing may take different rament under a different name forms — sometimes physical, — “Extreme Unction” or “Last Rites.” sometimes mental, emotional Today, it is celebrated with greater or spiritual — the sacrament is Parishioner Kathy Dieckman (left) always an opportunity for the frequency than in times past, and her twin sister at the River including any time someone is seperson to have an encounter with Jordan, on their pilgrimage to the riously ill or approaching surgery, God, the Divine Physician. Holy Land, where Kathy fell ill advanced in age, as well as when Parishioner Delores Koskovich and received the Sacrament of a person is nearing death. lost her beloved husband, Donald, Anointing of the Sick Parishioner Kathy Dieckman earlier this year. However, before has received Anointing of the Sick several times, his passing, he was able to receive Anointing of while ill or in preparation for medical procedures. the Sick, which not only brought him a sense of For her, this sacrament has always brought a peace and comfort but also helped his family in sense of comfort and strength. their grief. “When I’m in the hospital getting Anointing, I “I think it really comforted him because it feel like God is giving me extra blessings,” Kathy seemed like he was really at peace,” Delores says. says. “It always feels good — it lifts your heart.” “He kept saying, ‘What’s taking so long?’ He knew Almost two years ago, Kathy fell ill while on a he was going and he seemed like he was ready to pilgrimage to the Holy Land and received the sac- go. rament from the priest chaplain who was travel“It was also comforting to the family and very ing with the group. peaceful to know that he received the sacrament “Father gave me the Anointing of the Sick and he went with God’s blessings,” she says. continued on page 5
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