Whenever possible, it is always best to be anointed here at the parish prior to admission to the hospital for serious treatment or surgery. You may always call our parish offices for the sacrament if the person is at home. Do not wait in cases of extreme and serious illness. The sacrament does not have to be given only near death, but may be received when there is serious illness.
Anointing of the Sick and Pastoral Care at Local Hospitals
In the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston hospital ministry at the major medical centers is administered by the Catholic Chaplains Corps (DSF sponsored). When a Catholic is a patient in one of these hospitals there are Catholic chaplains who provide daily pastoral care (counseling and the administration of the sacraments). These chaplains are also on call 24/7 for emergencies. Other hospitals and nursing facilities in the archdiocese are assigned pastoral coverage to specific parishes in their geographic area.
Hospitals covered by the Catholic Chaplain Corps: Ben Taub, Kindred, M.D. Anderson, Memorial Herman, St. Luke’s, Texas Children’s, Methodist, TIRR, LBJ, Memorial Herman Southwest.
Hospitals in West Houston covered by parishes:
- West Houston – St. Justin
- Memorial Herman Memorial City – St. Cecilia
- Memorial Herman Katy – Epiphany
When a loved one is in the hospital and it is an emergency the best thing to do is ask the nurse’s station (or the pastoral care department of the hospital) to call the Catholic Chaplain Corps priest or the parish responsible for hospital coverage immediately.
For an updated list of individual chaplains to the hospitals and their contact information, please visit The Catholic Chaplain Corps, or call 713.747.8445.