DYER – Emotions at St. Maria Goretti, in Dyer, ran deep as parishioners, caregivers, families and friends shared April 18 in a Mass of anointing.
The Holy Spirit was present as Father Leo Gajardo called on the power of “Jesus the Healer” when he began the Mass. He talked about “our beautiful faith which always invites us to reach out in conversation with others, which began with an encounter.”
In his homily, Father Gajardo shared details about the “sacramental life” and encouraged believers to recognize Christ’s “great heart to know and experience his healing.”
He asked the Lord to “reach out to us…through one another.” And he asked participants “in the midst of the difficulties in life to take hold of life itself – as Jesus did as the Bread of Life.”
Irene Jakubowski, who traveled from Hegewisch, Ill. to attend this, her third healing Mass at St. Maria Goretti, said she was moved by the experience. “I have a friend in the choir who invited me the first time. Now I come every time. I just love the music. It is inspirational. There are not too many parishes that do this – It gives me a chance to feel renewed,” said Jakubowski, who has arthritis and other leg issues.
More than 100 people were anointed during the 10:30 a.m. Mass that was followed by a free luncheon, said administrative assistant and one of the coordinators, Debbie Lund. “It is not just limited to the physically sick,” she said. “We all have reason to be anointed; there is spiritual healing as well. Everyone is invited.”
Terry and Marsha Urbanczyk, of Dyer, have been parishioners since 1976. The couple will celebrate 50 years of marriage on May 11. They both suffer from cancer.
“I have stage four cancer, yet here I am. I am alive today,” said Terry Urbanczyk, who has suffered with cancer for 18 years. “We know God’s healing is working.”
Marsa Urbanczyk, a breast cancer survivor, agreed. “Words cannot really express how we feel, how we know it is working. We feel it in our souls.”
Father Gajardo appreciates seeing God’s handiwork. “It is a wonderful opportunity to encourage people and have them experience the Lord’s healing presence in our lives,” he said.
Lund said the anointing Mass, sponsored by the Bereavement Ministry and the Ministry of Care, was promoted since Easter, which accounted for the large turnout.
The invitation for the sacrament of the anointing of the sick explained that it is for the faithful whose health is seriously impaired by sickness or old age or people of any age in need of healing. The sacrament may also be administered to a person facing surgery, elderly people who have become notably weakened even though no serious illness is present and to those suffering mental or spiritual illness in search of healing in a time of crisis or pain, according to the Catechism.
Following Mass, most of those who attended went to Casa Maria Hall for a luncheon of mostaccioli, meatballs, salad and desserts.
“It is a true opportunity to grow together, to be able to lean on each other and support each other,” Lund said. “These can be emotional times for people. We try to be there for them.”
St. Maria Goretti celebrates a Mass of anointing twice a year and the next one will be scheduled in fall.
Caption: Father Leo Gajardo and Father Charles Niblick anoint and bless people at St. Maria Goretti in Dyer during an April 18 Mass of Anointing. More than 100 parishioners, caregivers, families and friends attended. (Lynda J. Hemmerling photo)