05/22/2020
Remembering Father Joe Sica
It has been two months now, since Father Joe’s death on 31March.
During this time, we’ve had so many wonderful conversations with parish people, neighbors and friends of Father Joe from different places.
The experiences of tears and sadness, never ended what people had to say – there was always a smile and even a good laugh with the Father Joe stories. Thoughts of him somehow bring a smile among the tears. I think that would please our friend. There seems to be a great desire to do something to honor him who brought the joy of the Gospel into our lives.
There was a Parish Council and Finance Council joint meeting a few weeks ago to discuss the care of the parish in these times. We also turned to remembering Father Joe. Other people have also expressed a great interest in honoring Father Joe. There is a strong consensus and agreement to do the following:
A portrait of Father Joseph Sica is being painted by Doria Mahoney, a local professional artist and member of the parish. Doria is so talented and so caring in how she is portraying Father Joe. She is wonderful. When I saw the face about two weeks ago, I thought Fr. Joe was going to speak. He will be in Mass vestments. The portrait will be 18” x24” and will be in a beautiful frame.
We are going to have a “Meditation on Priesthood” by Karl Rahner, S.J. prepared in a beautiful lettering to accompany the portrait. Father Joe loved this meditation which was on Father Robert Barone’s ordination card.
The meditation greatly influenced his sacred vocation, and awakened his soul when he was a high school student, seminarian, and priest. This would please him greatly… and will be something to inspire us.
The portrait of Father Joe will be placed in the main vestibule of the church on the wall where the bulletin board is. The meditation will be on the wall next to the inside doors, near the portrait. It will greatly and beautifully honor our friend, and will be framed in a similar way to the portrait.
In order to provide an appropriate setting for this remembrance, we would like to repair and paint the walls in the vestibule. To “do it right the grouting in the vestibule floor needs replacement, and the existing tiles need to be cleaned. It’s like your home, when you start one thing leads to another…It will be beautiful, and a good thing for all of us as we say goodbye to our friend.
Please consider sharing in remembering Father Joe Sica.
God Bless!
Father Pat
REMEMBERING FATHER JOE SICA
NAME_________________________________
ADDRESS______________________________
CITY___________________ STATE______ ZIP _______
Offering Amount ____________
Please mail to Immaculate Conception Church :
801 Taylor Avenue
Scranton, PA 18510
Or
Place your gift in the rectory mailbox. (or ring the bell) anytime.
Or
Stop at the parish office 10am -4pm. We are now reopened – Vera is back.
Thank you!
