Jesus also sent His disciples to “heal the sick” and they went forth and “anointed with oil manythat were sick”(Mark 6: 13).As a Sacrament of healing, Anointing of the Sick has certain special effects: A particular gift of the Holy Spirit, strengthening, bestowing peace and courage to overcome the difficulties of serious illness or old age. It also helps in resisting temptations to sin and discouragement. Union with the Passion of Christ. The sick person receives the strength to unite himself to Christ’s Passion and participates in the saving work ofJesus. A preparation for the final journey. As the Sacrament “for those departing”,it fortifies the end of one’s earthly life by preparing the person for the final struggles before passing to the next life. As indicated by Church law, the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick (formerly called Extreme Unction, or Last Rites) is given to those who are elderly and frail, those with a life-threatening condition, or those who are dying. Only an ordained priest validly administers the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick. Deacons or lay ministers may not administer this Sacrament, but may only offer prayers for the sick person when a priest is not present. Family and friends of the sick person should not delay in calling the priest if the person is dying. Also, if possible, it is better to call the priest before the person istaken to the hospital. To receive this sacrament, please call the Parish Office at 310-834-5215. Afteroffice hours, in the case of an emergency, press “3” and leave a brief message including the name of the sick person and your phone number. The priest on duty will be paged. Please give your phone number slowly and clearly.

​

 

Funerals

​

Please accept our sympathies at the death of your loved one. When someone has died, the first step is to contact a mortuary to prepare the body for the funeral rites. There are mortuaries advertised on the back of our weekly bulletin. Please specify SS. Peter and Paul in Wilmington as the church to hold the funeral Mass and to perform the Graveside Service. If Military Honors at the burial are desired, make this known to the mortuary so that they can arrange it.

Typically, the priest who is scheduled to be on duty the day of the funeral will perform the services and contact you for information about the deceased, informing the family of its options for participating at the funeral Mass and giving the family an overview of the entire proceedings prior to the Mass/Vigil/Rosary of on the day of said event.

​

Vigil Service

If a Vigil Service is desired, it may take the form of a Scripture service,

recitation of the Rosary or both. The Vigil Service usually takes place with the body of the deceased present at the mortuary on the evening preceding the Funeral Mass or in the church provided pre-arrangements have been made.

 

Eulogies and Words of Remembrance

The preferred places for Eulogies by family members and friends is at the Vigil Service or Graveside Service, not at the Funeral Mass. These words of remembrance are most effective when they do not try to be a complete history of the individual and from three to five minutes in length each.

​

Cremation

The Church prefers that cremation take place after the Funeral Mass. If this is not possible, the Church allows for the Funeral Mass to be celebrated with the cremated remains of the body present. Cremated remains are to be treated with the same respect given to the human body. This includes the use of a worthy vessel/urn which is to be buried in a grave or entombed in a mausoleum. Scattering the cremated remains, keeping them at home or dividing them up among family members is not allowed.