Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Tampa Bay, FL) announced that long-time community servant, Sister Anne Dougherty, OSF, will be her special guest to the U.S. Capitol for Pope Francis’ address to a Joint Meeting of Congress on Thursday, Sept. 24. Pope Francis will be the first leader of the Catholic Church to address Congress.

“I am honored that Sister Anne Dougherty will be my guest and represent the Tampa Bay community at Pope Francis’ historic address,” said U.S. Rep. Castor. “She is a selfless leader and has provided spiritual guidance for our community for decades at the Franciscan Center, at Francis House, to the Tampa Police Department, and to local students.”

Sister Anne is the President and CEO of the Franciscan Center since 2012, but has served the Tampa Bay community since the 1980s when she helped found the Francis House to provide services and support for people facing HIV and AIDS.  For a decade now Sister Anne has served as chaplain for the Tampa Police Department and the FBI. Prior to current role, she served as an administrator of Graduate Support at Academy Prep, a private, nonprofit school in Tampa, where she worked with U.S. Rep. Castor to coordinate tours of the U.S. Capitol for her Academy Prep students.

“I feel like I won the lottery,” said Sister Anne, who is originally from Philadelphia, one of the three cities Pope Francis will visit while in the United States. “I am very pleased and honored. The Pope has taken up the name of St. Francis of Assisi who is the patron saint of the Franciscan Center and the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, New York.  Pope Francis is following in the footsteps of St. Francis of Assisi by reaching out to the marginalized and all of God's creation.”

Sister Dougherty has seen the Pope while visiting the Vatican two years ago but said that sitting in the gallery of the U.S. House of Representatives for this historical address will be an entirely different experience.

The Franciscan Center is a spiritual retreat center in Tampa, with its’ mission, in the spirit of St. Francis of Assisi, to welcome everyone who seeks spiritual growth through a deeper relationship with God in a place of peace, community, healing and joy.

In addition, U.S. Rep. Castor announced today that a limited number of tickets to the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol (standing room only), where jumbotrons will broadcast the Pope’s address, are available to constituents of her district who will be in Washington, D.C. during this event.

“Thousands from all over the United States and the world will make the pilgrimage for the Pope’s visit to the U.S. Capitol and our neighbors have an opportunity to be part of it. We anticipate that Pope Francis will come out and wave from the Capitol balcony,” U.S. Rep. Castor added.

Neighbors of District 14 interested in a ticket should contact U.S. Rep. Castor’s Tampa office at 813-871-2817.

After visiting Cuba, the Pope arrives in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 22, and then is scheduled to visit New York and Philadelphia during.

###