compassionate caring in the catholic tradition
When you have experienced a death in your family and when a loved one dies, the task of making arrangements for the Funeral Mass can seem overwhelming. We at St. Patrick’s are here to walk with you in your time of need. We have a compassionate Ministry of Bereavement that will assist you at this time.
Once your funeral director of choice has notified our church office of a death and a funeral request and a time for the Mass is set, one of our Bereavement Ministers will contact you and set a time to meet with you to plan the readings and music for the Mass of Christian Burial.
If you are not using a funeral home and are hoping to plan a memorial Mass, please call our church office at 847-244-4161 and we will lead you through the process. If you need to request the Church’s Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick for someone who is ill or close to death, you may call the church office . Every effort will be made to speak with you and schedule a visit. If your loved one is in a local hospital, please have the floor nurse or chaplain’s office assist you in reaching a local priest so that your relative can be seen as soon as possible. While a Deacon may be able to visit and pray with you, only an ordained priest can administer the Sacrament of the Anointing. This is because this Sacrament also confers the forgiveness of sins and only a priest can celebrate that ritual.
Every one of us who is Catholic should keep a card in our wallets or purse that says, “I am Catholic. In the event of an accident or serious illness, please call a Roman Catholic Priest.” You can get one of these cards at a Catholic book store or other religious organizations. (I keep one in my wallet and update the information frequently).
If you are having surgery or other medical procedures, please request a priest to pray over you and administer this Sacrament of Christ and His church. Read about it in the Epistle of St. James in your Bible. (James, Chapter 5).