In the Sacrament of the Sick, a Priest prays for the sick person and anoints them with oil for their outward and inward healing. In the past, this sacrament was commonly known as "the last rites". It is, however, recommended for all those who fall seriously ill, even if the illness is not expected to be fatal. Another source of spiritual comfort, for those who are not able to attend Sunday Mass, is Holy Communion brought by a Priest or a lay minister. This can be arranged on individual occasions, or as a regular weekly or monthly visit, depending on circumstances. If you believe that you or someone close to you would benefit from the Sacrament of the Sick or Holy Communion, please contact the Presbytery (see Contact Us). If the sick person is in hospital, it is usually better to make contact with the hospital's appointed Catholic Chaplain (usually obtainable through nursing staff or the hospital's chaplaincy department). It is important to make a specific request to see a Priest, even if the patient stated their religion as Catholic when they were admitted to hospital, because data protection laws do not permit us access to this information.