Lexington Priest Embarks on Global Mission of Mercy

Father Jim Sichko travels the world spreading messages of compassion and hope.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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Even as a young boy growing up in Texas, Father Jim Sichko knew his calling was to become a Catholic priest. Now 59 years old, Father Sichko has been named a Papal Missionary of Mercy by Pope Francis and travels the world 300 days a year delivering talks on mercy, kindness, and compassion to people of all faiths and cultures.

Why it matters

Father Sichko's mission reflects a growing need for messages of hope and unity in a world that can often feel divided and lacking in empathy. His work highlights the power of faith-based outreach to uplift and connect communities, especially those facing hardship.

The details

After being named a Papal Missionary of Mercy in 2015, Father Sichko combined that role with an assignment from the Bishop of Lexington to serve as an evangelist for the Catholic Church. He now travels extensively, visiting all 50 states and 6 continents to deliver his '60 Minutes of Jesus' talks in churches of all denominations. Father Sichko's mission is driven by his belief that 'without God in our lives, we are nothing, and with God in our lives, we can do anything' if we embrace mercy, kindness, and compassion.

  • In 2015, Pope Francis named Father Jim Sichko as one of 100 Papal Missionaries of Mercy in the U.S.
  • For the past 9 years, Father Sichko has traveled 300 days per year to deliver his talks.

The players

Father Jim Sichko

A 59-year-old Catholic priest from Lexington, Kentucky who has been named a Papal Missionary of Mercy and travels the world delivering talks on mercy, kindness, and compassion.

Pope Francis

The current Pope of the Catholic Church who named Father Sichko and 99 other U.S. priests as Papal Missionaries of Mercy in 2015.

Bishop John Stowe

The Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Lexington who assigned Father Sichko as an evangelist for the Catholic Church, which he has combined with his Papal Missionary of Mercy role.

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What they’re saying

“That without God in our lives, we are nothing, and with God in our lives, we can do anything, but we have to be people of mercy, kindness and compassion, and I think that's what resonates with people.”

— Father Jim Sichko, Catholic Priest (wkyt.com)

“Father Jim is an inspiration to everyone at our church, and everyone in the Diocese of Lexington, not only for what he does for the people, but what he does for the churches. And it means so much for him to come to a small church like Harrodsburg, and just to spread the laughter and the joy and all of the good cheer that he has for everybody, and it's such a pleasure for him to bring all of his goodwill to us.”

— Deacon Bruce Browning, St. Andrew Catholic Church in Harrodsburg (wkyt.com)

What’s next

Father Sichko plans to continue his global mission of spreading messages of mercy, kindness, and compassion through his '60 Minutes of Jesus' talks, which he delivers 300 days a year in churches around the world.

The takeaway

Father Sichko's dedication to his faith-based mission of uplifting and connecting communities, even in the smallest of towns, serves as an inspiring example of the power of compassion to transcend divisions and bring people together during challenging times.