Playing an active role in the Catholic community has always been important to Fran Pilarcik, a member of St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Vienna. When she and her husband of 56 years, Paul, were looking for a home, nearness to a Catholic Church was high on their list. “We bought land in 1958 because it was directly behind the church,” she said. A one-minute walk through the field or five minutes on the road takes Pilarcik to the church, where she is in her 32nd year as sacristan. “When I enter the church, I feel it is my second home and the people my extended family,” she said.
Catholic values were instilled in Pilarcik from a young age. “Both sides of my family were very religious. Being involved in the parish and helping others was just normal,” she said. Her father entertained thoughts of a priestly vocation in his youth but had to work to help support his family during the depression. “My father didn’t get to be a priest but through him our family has a strong commitment to the faith,” she said. The example shown her as a child is one Pilarcik strives to instill in her five children and nine grandchildren. “Once you start being active yourself, you want to be an example for your family,” she noted.
Pilarcik has been a member of the Women’s Guild at St. Vincent de Paul since she and Paul joined the parish 52 years ago. She has held every office except treasurer in the guild, which she describes as her favorite parish involvement. She also volunteers for the parish’s fish dinners, is a Eucharist minister and serves as secretary of the liturgy committee. “I enjoy working with people. I don’t consider it work. I have fun doing it,” Pilarcik said.
The year Pilarcik began serving as sacristan, 1978, was also the year she assumed the duties of principal/secretary for the parish CCD program. For 20 years, Pilarcik organized CCD classes, substituted as a teacher when needed and coordinated the summer Bible School. The former CCD principal is proud of the fact that her two daughters and one daughter-in-law taught CCD in their own parishes. She has also filled in as parish secretary, cook and housekeeper when an employee resigned or was on vacation. Away from the parish, Pilarcik was employed as a correspondent for the Warren Tribune-Chronicle, as secretary for the Vienna Zoning Commission and as a secretary for Wean Engineering.
The varied involvements within her Catholic parish and community helping others have brought Pilarcik peace and contentment. “I’m 77 years old and I promised God as long as I am physically and mentally able, I’ll keep doing whatever He wants me to do.”
One of Pilarcik’s most enjoyable duties as sacristan is arranging flowers and creating a welcoming environment, both indoors and outdoors, for liturgical celebrations. “I try to create something pleasant to the eye and use colored materials to accent the theme,” she said. Memorial donations provide bouquets for Church holidays while many of the flowers used to adorn the altar on weekends come from Pilarcik’s garden. She and Paul grow sunflowers, mums, gladiolas, cosmos, daisies, and other summer varieties, which Pilarcik mixes and matches with perennials grown on church grounds. “I love seeing the beauty of nature that God has created for us,” she said.
Parishioners assist with the Christmas, Easter and Palm Sunday decorations, while Pilarcik assembles the seasonal arrangements. (Father Frank Zanni, pastor of St. Vincent de Paul, plans the displays.) Pilarcik records each holiday display in albums. “It helps us when we decorate because we try to change it all the time,” she said of the pictures. “I get a lot of enjoyment out of the finished project,” she added.
Along with decorating the church, Pilarcik’s sacristan duties entail setting up for daily and weekend Masses; washing and ironing Mass linens, altar servers’ albs, and altar cloths; replacing candles; keeping cupboards and storage areas in order; and remembering where needed supplies are located. “I pray my memory doesn’t go,” said Pilarcik, with a laugh.
Her involvement honors God-given talents, promotes physical and mental health and has generated long-lasting friendships. “Our morning Mass group is very close. If anyone is sick or needs prayers, we’re there for each other,” said Pilarcik. Praying for all those in the parish who are ill or taking food to those in need is also rewarding. “You know you always have someone to rely on. It is definitely a comfort,” she noted.
Pilarcik experienced that support first-hand when she had open heart surgery 10 years ago. “Every now and then you have a few setbacks but you have to rely on faith to get through,” she said. Assistance from her husband, children and fellow parishioners lightened the burden when she was sidelined. “Going through a major illness like open heart surgery, and surviving, you realize you have a chance to do more,” she said.
To remain healthy, Pilarcik takes time to rest during the day either by reading or watching cooking shows. She also maintains a walking regime, which she has had since childhood. “Walking has always been a normal thing for me. I think you feel better if you’re active,” said Pilarcik.
In her spare time, she enjoys traveling with family, gardening and oil painting. Before a recent family reunion, Pilarcik authored a family history which she distributed to three generations. She and another parishioner (Mary Ann Mizicko) researched, wrote, compiled and edited a history of St. Vincent de Paul Parish from its beginnings in 1871 until the mid 1990s. Included in the book is an original poem on life’s journey composed by Pilarcik.
Continuing on her life-long path of involvement remains Pilarcik’s goal. “God wants us to try our best to help. If I can I will,” she said.