Chaminade HS chaplain reflects on experience serving alongside Pope Francis at St. Peter’s Basilica
Back in 2019 while he was a deacon, Father Peter Heiskell served alongside Pope Francis during a Holy Thursday Mass.
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As the world mourns the loss of Pope Francis, Chaminade High School's chaplain is mourning a man he remembers as warm and welcoming.
Back in 2019 while he was a deacon, Father Peter Heiskell lived in Rome while studying to become a Marianist priest.
He volunteered to serve at the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday and found out he would be helping the Holy Father during the Mass.
"I served right next to him during the Mass. Basically, wherever he was, I was immediately to his right,” he said. "It was a very proud moment for me, a very important moment for me."
He also got the chance to speak with the pontiff, asking for prayers while he finished his studies.
"I think he's really down to earth. It was very easy and comfortable to be with him,” said Fr. Heiskell. "He's a man of prayer who's always asked people to pray for him."
Heiskell also shared some valuable lessons he learned from Pope Francis.
"That faithfulness through the service with the spirit of hope, the spirit of mercy, he teaches me all of that and models that beautifully for me,” he said.
Fr. Heiskell says he hopes to pass along these lessons to his students at Chaminade.
"It's a good inspiration to me to stay faithful in my service to the young people here at the school and to my fellow brothers,” he said. "He was a pope of service, of mercy and I think that's a good way for us to live as well."
