Missing out on weekly Mass has been heartbreaking for Patti and Steve Livak, but calls from their pastor are helping soften the blow.
“He asked if we would all gather together and say a prayer with him,” said Patti Livak, who has lived in Hegewisch and attended St. Florian Church for most of her life.
Livak said the Rev. David Simonetti also asked them to come to the rectory so he could give them a loaf of his home-made Italian bread, which the couple and their two sons enjoyed.
“We miss the congregation, our friends at church we see when we go to our Mass every week,” said Livak, who said it would be her first time missing Easter services. “It really does something for the soul.”
Simonetti said the dozens of daily calls he makes daily do something for him too. He hopes to reach all of his 800 families.
“It’s been really nice because they gather their family and put me on speaker phone,” said Simonetti. “I use the blessing I would have used at the end of Mass for that day.
“I’ve been enjoying it because I’m kind of isolated myself and am receiving an awful lot out of it,” said Simonetti.
Though Simonetti commiserates with his parishioners about needing to stay inside and be away from church, he also tells them, “the Lord is embalmed by space or distance or time.”
“If the operator is listening, she gets a blessing too,” said Simonetti.
As a way to lighten everyone’s burden, Simonetti adds a touch of humor to his calls and encourages his members to joke about their travails, such as “how their husbands are really getting on their nerves.”
“On a light note, I don’t mention the collection,” said Simonetti.
He also sends entertaining clips and messages via email to members, as well as photos of his regular baking feats.
“He sends a lot of very enlightening messages, text messages, praying for us,” Bill Cecconi said. “To hear a voice of someone you love and trust, it does make us happy.”
That contact can be especially helpful to parishioners who live alone.
“He called the day before and gave me a blessing over the phone, which I was very happy for,” said Irene Nawracaj, who lives near the parish. “It brought me to tears, that’s how much I appreciated it.”
Though Simonetti also makes the regular calls during the Christmas season, the contact has been crucial for people as they experience the fear and isolation brought on by the coronavirus.
“He called to give us a blessing and tell us to keep our faith and be strong because of the situation we’re all going through,” said Maria Suarez, who received the call with Enrique, her husband. “I thought it was very nice and thoughtful.”
Simonetti said as a way of comforting parishioners, he reminds them that these difficult times can help build faith and show the humanity in the many parishioners who find ways to help each other.
“God can only permit something that ultimately draws us closer to him,” said Simonetti. “Perhaps this will strengthen their faith to really appreciate and not take things for granted.
“To find again that we’re vulnerable and we need to stay close to the Lord and each other,” said Simonetti.
Janice Neumann is freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
