Gulf Pine Catholic

Gulf Pine Catholic • June 26, 2020 7 Fr. Kithcin From page 1 “I found him to be a caring, generous pas- tor, always willing to answer anyone’s call for the sacraments, and that he absolutely loved being a priest. He was especially inter- ested in the youth of the parish and organized a very successful Life Teen program in 1999. “We often saw his parents when they came to visit, and we mourned with him over the death of his father, Leon, and welcomed his mother, Effie, into our parish when she chose to make her home with him until her death.” Deacon Rick Conason, who served with Father Kitchin at St. James Parish, said many people consider Father Kitchin to be “a father in the truest sense of the word.” “Many people have said to me that they consider him a father figure,” said Deacon Conason. “Second, Father Kitchin has always been a man of the deepest faith and love for Jesus. When these two are com- bined, it is no surprise that he has always had a special love for vocations, and indeed many of our young priests and current semi- narians used him for informal spiritual direc- tion while in seminary. Every summer there was always a seminarian around St. James.” One of those young men happens to be Father Ryan McCoy. God places people in your life,” said Father McCoy. “Father George entered my life when I was ordained a transitional deacon and assigned to St. James for the summer of 2010. Father George was the pastor of St. James. We had the same interests; Fox News and mod- ern American history. I was amazed at his ability to speak about the details of the American Revolution. Also, he would share personal stories from the Civil Rights Movement during the 1950s and 1960s. I was able to quickly connect with Father George. “Father George has a true love for the church. I can remember being fascinated about stories about Bishop Brunini. Another favorite topic was Bishop John Carroll and the establishment of the Diocese of Baltimore. Fr. George could confidently speak on the history of the Catholic Church in the United States. I was amazed to see the Catholic Church through his understanding of history.” Father McCoy was first introduced to XLT , which is an hour of Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament with praise and worship music, while serving his sum- mer internship at St. James. “Father George would faithfully hear confessions every Tuesday night for XLT . I was very appreciative of Fr. George’s being available to hear confessions. Having a confessor would become important as I was ordained a priest in the summer of 2011,” said Father McCoy. “I am grateful to Father George for making the Sacrament of Confession available to me. Father George made the Sacrament of Reconciliation a prior- ity.” Ironically, earlier this month, 10 years after that summer internship, Father McCoy was named pastor of St. Elizabeth Seton parishioners presented Father Kitchin with a car on the occasion of his 25th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood. GPC file photos St. James, where he too prioritizes XLT and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. “Through my friendship with Father George, I was able to grow in my spiritual life. I appreciate his will- ingness to be a Father figure and provide counsel in times of need,” said Father McCoy. “As Father George celebrates his 50th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood, I am grateful for the many conversations and meals that were shared. “ Father Adam Urbaniak is another priest who has benefitted from Father Kitchin’s kindness and wisdom. “It has been a privilege for me to get to know Father George Kitchin over the last few years. He was instru- mental in my formation process, especially as I was transitioning from the seminary life into the priestly ministry. He became a great mentor to me during the time I was preparing myself for the ordination to the Diaconate,” said Father Urbaniak, pastor of Our Lady of Victories Parish in Pascagoula. “I am grateful, espe- cially now as a vocation director, for his continued support of vocations. He always welcomed seminarians of our diocese to stay in his parish, especially while being a pastor at St. James Parish in Gulfport. His rec- tory became a second home to many of our seminari- ans. It was a place where they could relax and enjoy ministry in our diocesan family. Fr. George gave them a sense of welcome and belonging, which is so impor- tant especially in the early years of formation. “Father George deeply believes in Catholic Education as a fundamental element of New Evan- gelization. We are in debt to him for dedicating his time, energy, and very often his resources and investing them in our young Catholic students. It comes from his love for Mississippi and the Diocese of Biloxi. He is a dedicated priest, who will never stop serving his God and God’s people.” Deacon Robert Illanne said he has had the privilege of celebrating baptisms, funer- als and the occasional wedding with Father Kitchin at St. Mary Parish. While those have all been memorable occasions, Deacon Illanne, added, “Perhaps my most treasured memory of our time together will always be those warm, muggy nights watching the Biloxi Shuckers play and the talks we shared returning home from those games.” “I’m happy to be a part of this time in Father Kitchin’s life as he celebrates his golden jubilee,” he said. As Father Urbaniak previously men- tioned, Father Kitchin is a generous sup- porter of young people, especially Catholic school students. “Father Kitchin has been an advocate for Resurrection Catholic School for many years,” said Kristal Sisson, principal of Resurrection Catholic High School in Pascagoula. “Father Kitchin’s devotion goes beyond words spoken in the sanctuary. Father Kitchin shows his love for RCS and our stu- dents. He attends football games and other sporting events, celebrates Mass often on both RCS campuses, attends parades, block parties, Spring Flings, and numerous other RCS events. Father Kitchin has also blessed many students by helping them (from his personal finances) attend RCS. Many times, he has uplifted me with a phone call and encouraging word of support during my first year as principal of RCS. We are blessed to have such a devot- ed pastor who dearly loves and supports RCS.” A profound homilist and engaging conversational- ist, Father Kitchin didn’t have much to say when asked to reflect on his 50 years of priestly ministry, but what he said speaks volumes. “My experience is that the priesthood is a strictly personal calling,” Father Kitchin said. “The Lord calls the young man he wants. If a young man believes he is being called, he should apply for the seminary. If he is admitted to the seminary, he should continue until it becomes clear that he is not personally called by the Lord Jesus. That’s what my pastor told me. I was 16 when I asked him.” Father Kitchin had dozens of friends from his semi- nary days who were “more holy, better students, more disciplined, harder working and, frankly, more talented in the skills needed in ministry,” but it became clear to them that they were not called, he said. “That personal call became clearer each year over my 10 years of seminary life,” he continued. “This became a conviction of faith until the day it became a certainty, when Bishop Brunini personally called my name in the sanctuary of my own native parish in Greenwood, Mississippi. My vocation is still a mystery. Each time I think I have it all figured out, the Lord Jesus shows me something new. And it is always more wonderful than I thought it could be.”