Words of Remembrance for Brother Charles Kitson, FSC

Words of Remembrance for Brother Charles Kitson, FSC

Liturgy prior to the burial

Christian Brothers Center, Narragansett, RI

Sunday, April 10, 2016

Given by Brother Michael McKenery, FSC

ONE OF A KIND!!!

There is probably not a person here present today that was not stunned and at a loss for words at the passing of this great and wonderful man: Brother Charles Kitson. When I received word of his untimely passing, I texted my nephew Joey, and he responded simply with the words, “ONE OF A KIND”. He touched lives in such a way that he was, indeed, one of a kind who, when present with anyone of us, always made us feel that we were, indeed, “TWO OF A KIND”. Much has already been spoken and shared about his influence and his special care and touch on so many lives and rightly so since each and every relationship was from the heart and quite frankly, “SPECIAL”.

Charlie and I were privileged to work together in creating “Mime” shows that began quietly and on a small scale at La Salle Military Academy and continued on a grand scale at La Salle Academy where Charlie worked in Campus Ministry with Sister Liz Engel, O.P. It was there that the three of us worked and shared our lives with an extraordinary group of young men and women, creating ways through dance, music, and mime, and delivering the message of the Gospel in such a way that it captured the imagination and attention of the audiences that filled the auditorium at La Salle Academy night after night. Brother Jerome Corrigan, the then Principal and later, President of La Salle complimented us one evening, saying to the audience, “It may not be Broadway or even Trinity, but it is La Salle”. Charlie, Liz, and I looked at each other and simultaneously said, “Better”! Well, we did get to play “Broadway” when we were invited to perform the opening prayer service for the National Catholic Education Association at the Javitts’ Center.

Without Charlie, I would never have known or been aware of “Guns and Roses” and Axel Rose nor would I have known who “Snake” was. It was a very special time for the three of us and for the young men and women who truly touched and transformed each of us. Hopefully, and prayerfully, we did the same for them.

When I was the Brother Visitor of the then LI-NE District, one of the Brothers wrote that the “Brother Visitor spends too much time with a traveling minstrel show.” I took it as a compliment. As I think back, it was probably the best compliment that I ever received.

“ONE OF A KIND,” there is no better way for me to remember Charlie than those words. He was indeed the essence of those words. Goodbye, my dear friend, goodbye, my brother. Yes, my very dear Brother. Our lives have been touched! Our lives have been blessed! Put in a good word for us! We all loved you! I loved you! We shall never forget that “Dancing Fool” for Christ who changed our lives for the “Good” and forever.

Saint John Baptist de La Salle, pray for us!

Live Jesus in our hearts, forever!