This sacrament provides 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.  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.  Due to updates in privacy regulations, it is appreciated if a family member would call the parish office to notify us if a loved one is hospitalized.