The Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii strives to help people find the guidance they need to maneuver their way past life’s challenges. Over the last three years, the shrine has offered spiritual pilgrimages for grieving parents and for spouses suddenly facing life alone as well as other programs for those in distress.

Recently, the shrine held a celebration recognizing organ donors and recipients; it began with a Mass and continued with several speakers offering different perspectives on organ donations.

Besides stressing the value and need for organ donations, the event explained the Illinois donor program’s current regulations. Speakers included Susan Pudelek, the shrine’s director of pilgrimage ministry; Secretary of State Jesse White; and Enrico Benedetti, MD, head of the University of Illinois at Chicago’s department of surgery and director of its transplant center.

Anne Gulotta, Steve Ferkau, Henry Gentile, and Time Joos gave first-hand accounts either as organ recipients or as someone affected by a donation.

“It was very moving and joyous,” said Lisa Petrilli, an organ recipient. Petrilli counts herself among the fortunate because her health care team found a compatible kidney and today she leads “a full and active life.” The experience brought her face-to-face with a life-threatening uncertainty that ended with “extraordinary joy and appreciation for life,” she said.

Pudelek said the shrine likely will host another organ donor celebration in the future.

— Sheila Elliott