Jim Sichko - Among Friends: Stories from the Journey

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ISBN: 978-1-4976-3889-1

This edition published in 2014 by Open Road Integrated Media, Inc.

180 Maiden Lane

New York, NY 10038

www.openroadmedia.com

This book is dedicated to my mother, Marie C. Sichko, and to those I am called to serve.

A portion of the proceeds from all sales of this book will go toward the John Besh Foundation and the Diocese of Lexington Seminary Fund.

FOREWORD

It has been several years ago now that I received a rather peculiar donation to our foundation along with a note left at the hostess stand at my restaurant, August , familiarly written by a Father Jim, whom I didnt recall ever having met. The note, more or less a modern-day epistle, explained how he had been on a mission trip to my home town and had subsequently profited from his preaching and wanted to donate it to a great cause in the New Orleans area, where he had attended our Notre Dame Seminary. The epistle reminded me that we are all called to be stewards of our gifts. What struck me as impressive was that Father Jim, a priest who constantly gives of his time, energy, and talents, did, in fact, feel obliged to share his meager wages among the community that he was evangelizing.

Admittedly poor with names, I began exploring my mental Rolodex of priestly friends, and, for the life of me, I couldnt remember ever meeting a Father Jim. Without a business card or much of any contact information other than what was on the Richmond, Kentucky, bank check, I had no clue as to who this generous fellow was. Before I had the chance to draft a proper thank-you, I spoke with my mother, Imelda, as I do every morning. She began recalling uplifting and entertaining stories of this Father Jim, a former thespian and opera singer, whom she had heard at a Lenten workshop given by my very own St. Luke the Evangelist Parish. She went on to tell me that, as this week-long retreat progressed, Father Jim would entertain the congregation with recounting each and every course of food he had dined on at several of our restaurants along with the interactions between him and my staff while in town. Using these seemingly everyday occurrences, he conveyed the teachings and lessons of Christ that are alive and ever-present in all of our lives. Though Imelda and I visit every day, and spirituality is often a favored topic, Ive never heard Mother so enthused or, for that matter, entertained by a guest speaker at church.

As it turns out, Father Jim and I would eventually meet and become great friends, not through the obvious church connection but, rather, through food. By breaking bread at both my family table and his, I have been blessed to share a sacred bond with him, his family, and his adoptive family in Kentucky. This dynamic and entertaining teacher, even while at a table among friends, has a way not only of challenging us to be the Christians that we are called to be but also of comforting us with the love of God knowing that, although none of us are perfect, we are loved by the ever-so-merciful Father. I am fortunate to know this man who, through the everyday comedy of his life, brings us closer to the spiritual realities of every story in our lives and the way we are called to address them.

John Besh

Celebrity Chef and Restaurateur

A Note from Chas Allen

It has been an honor and a privilege to have the opportunity to work on the compilation of this book. Not only was it an incredible and uplifting project to be a part of, but, over the course of the past six months, I have come to know Father Jim not only as a priest and motivational speaker, but also as a friend.

When he taught at the Catholic high school I attended, I was always impressed by his teaching methods. I wasnt always thrilled with them especially when he would reprimand me with detention for talking during class. Nonetheless, I always respected his ability to teach and get results.

I have come to know Father Jim in a way that I feel most do not. Ive had the privilege to be his co-author, personal trainer, and life-coach over the past six months. Father Jim has been an inspiration to me. He is one of the most selfless individuals I have ever encountered. He will go to the ends of the earth if it will help someone else or even just bring the slightest smile to that persons face.

His traveling and his speaking are reflections of his deep-seated desire to benefit others, and he does. Ive seen, on many occasions, the effect that he is able to have on peoples lives. With care, concern, his entertaining personality, his quick wit, or any of the gifts he is blessed with, he is able to have a positive impact on all who happen to be fortunate enough to encounter him. I have seen it not only on a wide scale but also on a personal level.

I am sincerely thankful for the opportunity to work with Fr. Jim, but, most of all, for the opportunity to come to know him as a person and friend. He believed in me, when doing so wasnt easy. He was willing to get to know me and accept me for who I am today, and not for who I was years past. He is always teaching, always leading by example, which is reminiscent of none other than the supreme example, Jesus Christ. It is with great humbleness and gratitude that I thank him for inviting me to share this journey with him. I also thank each of you who happen to be reading these words for joining us on the journey as well. I hope it has been as much a joy and positive influence on your lives as it has been on mine.

Chas Allen

A Note from Jonathan Ryan

On a beautiful summer night, I sat drinking strong coffee and watching Father Jim in his natural habitat, among friends. He sat with a group of people he calls his second family. Father, Ben and Regina Invergo, their kids, extended family from Austria, and I ate, laughed, joked and teased each other over an amazing meal.

I looked around the horse farm, watching the smiling faces, with Father Jim in the midst of it all, and I remember thinking, This is what heaven will be like.

In our broken world, we live with a lot of sadness, pain and sorrow. My own life is a story of all three, as I journeyed from the Catholic Church, into Protestant ordination, and now find myself back where I started: a sign of the cross, Jesus-eating, kneeling, committed Catholic.

Father Jim came into my life right in the midst of that transition as he asked me to help with his book. As a paranormal/horror writer, my usual job is to make up terrifying monsters, spooky ghosts, and scary people to read about on a blustery night when the veil between worlds is thin. I didnt know how I would do helping with a creative non-fiction book.