Klaipėda shaped priest’s purpose and home

Sigitas Benediktas Jurčys credits the city of Klaipėda, Lithuania, with fostering his resilience and sense of purpose.

For 44 years, Jurčys served as a member of the Minor Brothers order, and during that time he helped establish the St. Francis of Assisi Monastery and Church, the St. Francis Oncology Center, and the “Run of Hope” event for cancer patients. He also founded “Gallery 1252” within the monastery, showcasing a collection of Japanese art.

Recently, Jurčys received notice that he would be transferred from Klaipėda to the Hill of Crosses monastery, a decision that prompted petitions from the local community asking that he be allowed to continue his work in the city. Last year, he decided to resign from his priestly duties and remain in Klaipėda, a city he says shaped his character from childhood.

Jurčys describes Klaipėda as more than just his birthplace, explaining that the city taught him to withstand challenges and to find his way back after hardship. He also emphasizes the importance of his mother’s love and faith, which provided him with a foundation of belonging and strength. He believes a Klaipėda native possesses a spirit rooted in freedom and openness, ready to face the sea and the wind.

Jurčys views his work in the city as a way to give back to the community that nurtured him, and he feels a strong sense of responsibility to continue to do so.