Sacraments in the Hospital

It used to be true that anytime you needed a priest to come to the hospital to administer the sacraments, you could call the local parish and a priest would show up. However, in March 2020, all of that changed with the outbreak of Covid-19.  Suddenly, there were new restrictive rules that promoted isolation and led to a great deal of fear.  Thankfully over time, most of these rules have been relaxed or even lifted in many areas, allowing us to return to some form of normalcy.  However, for most hospitals and other health-care facilities, these restrictions are only slightly eased and it may never return to “normal.”

Currently, many hospitals (including Inova Fairfax) will not allow a priest (including the on-duty chaplain) to enter your room unless YOU or a FAMILY MEMBER specifically request his visit. Even if a friend or pastor requested the local priest, the hospital will not let him enter a room to visit unless the patient or family member specifically called for the priest.

IF YOU KNOW in advance that you are going to a hospital or health-care facility, such as for surgery or chemotherapy, it would be best if you contact or visit your parish priest BEFORE going to the facility to receive Anointing of the Sick or other sacraments ahead of time.

If you are not able to get to your own parish, you can find a list of all the health-care facilities in the Diocese of Arlington, and the parishes that serve these facilities, on our Padre Pio website at the Table of Parishes.

If you are not located within the Diocese of Arlington, you can find a parish near your location at the Catholic Directory or Parishes Online websites.

If you would like to receive Communion, Anointing of the Sick or any other sacrament while you are in the hospital, then you or a family member must first call the Chaplaincy office, or ask a nurse to call on your behalf, to request a priest to visit you.  Most chaplaincy offices have a list of local Catholic priests whom they can call on your behalf.

For Inova Fairfax Hospital in Virginia, you can reach the chaplain’s office at 703-776-3767 (or ext. 6-3767 on the hospital phone).

The Holy Eucharist (Communion)

If you would like to receive Holy Communion, you or a family member MUST contact the hospital’s Chaplaincy office first and request it so that a priest or Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist can come to your room.  When you call the Chaplaincy office, state how often you would like to receive Communion (e.g. once a day, only on Sunday, every other day).

If for some reason, you are not able to physically receive Holy Communion, then say a Spiritual Communion or other Communion Prayers (found here) as often as you like. To make this even more powerful, you could also participate in Mass online as well (see some option below).

Sunday Mass in the Crypt Church of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

Sunday and daily masses from churches around the world

Daily and Sunday Masses from EWTN

For Android or Apple phones/tablets, search for these terms in the app store

“Mass Online” – developed by Marek Rzewuski
CatholicTV– includes other Catholic programming

Anointing of the Sick

This sacrament, one of the two healing sacraments of the Church, can only be administered by a Catholic priest. It may be received by any Catholic over the age of reason (usually 7 years old) who is seriously ill, infirm from old age, or facing a serious operation. A young child under the age of reason may receive a special Blessing instead of Anointing. This sacrament is not just reserved for those who are dying, but rather for anyone facing a serious illness.  You are allowed to receive this Sacrament more than once (i.e., for a worsening illness or a new illness or different procedure).

If you are not able to receive Anointing of the Sick in a timely manner, then call upon the Mercy of God through other powerful prayers that can be found on this website.

Confession (Reconciliation)

If you would like to receive the sacrament of Reconciliation, you or a family member (or a nurse on your behalf) must contact the chaplaincy office to request a priest to come to your room.

In case a priest is not able to enter your room in a timely, then say an Act of Contrition with true repentance in your heart and a trustful surrender to the Love and Mercy of God.  The Act of Contrition and other information about this sacrament can be found here.

Baptism and/or Confirmation

In an emergency (i.e. danger of death), patients may receive the sacrament of Baptism if they desire it.  If a priest is not readily available, any properly catechized Catholic could perform the baptism, using water and the correct words.  Any baptized Catholic (regardless of age) in danger of death may also receive First Communion if possible, and Confirmation if they have not already been confirmed.  However, if a child is under the age of 14 and there is a good chance of survival, then they should wait to receive Confirmation at their parish.

Any emergency Baptisms, Confirmations, or First Holy Communions done at Inova Fairfax Hospital are officially recorded with St. Ambrose parish in Annandale, VA.