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Published on: 11/4/2006
Last Visited: 11/4/2006
Our children grew up with Fr. Francis Kittock as our pastor.For 27 years, he led our edge-of-the-big-city parish through the ups and downs of the demographic changes which have affected most major cities.His managerial approach and "no nonsense" style led some to suggest he was stern, aloof, or unapproachable.
But to the grade school children at St. Charles, Fr. Kittock was a role model.Children were "top priority" to Father and he made sure they knew it!
When it came time for graduation, Father would take each eighth grader aside individually for a little "talk."In his own "fatherly" style, he would ask them what their plans were for high school and beyond, and then remind them, "Don't forget, St. Charles is your home parish.You are always welcome here.I'll be watching for you and praying for you."Fr. Kittock has never played cards with our children or taken them camping, but whenever they had a question regarding faith or morals, they would not hesitate to call him.In fact, one of our sons, who served seven years in the military, was sometimes confronted by anti-Catholic arguments on faith.When he was stumped, he reached for the phone and called Fr. Kittock for the answer.
"Fr. Kittock is such a father figure to me," our daughter Angie (22) says."He's authoritative but always gentle and caring.