Orange native Father Jim Sichko was among 100 priests chosen to live alongside Pope Francis at his residence in Rome for an extended amount of time.
“The experience was out of this world,” he said. “I had the opportunity to reside in the same residence at the Holy Father – the Domus Sanctae Marthae. The Holy Father has chosen to live there and in essence lives in community! He was at all our meals and walks freely about the house.”
Sichko, currently residing at a church in Richmond, Kentucky said, “I gave him a picture of my mother and an officer and asked him to pray for them. He immediately responded — I will and I ask that YOU and the people of Kentucky pray for me!!! The Missionaries were given our mandate to be bearers of Christ’s mercy and not to be judges. One of the quotes he gave was -Let’s not forget that before us is just not sin -but a PERSON -A PERSON who desires welcome and healing to live as a child of GOD.”
Sichko also exchanged gifts with the Pope, “He also switched out his white zucchetto for one that I brought him and it has made the trip back to the states!”
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