Meet Parishioner Annette Kittelson: Gratefully Living A Stewardship Way Of Life

Our Lady of the Angels Parish has been an essential part of Annette Kittelson’s life for as long as she can remember. She has been a parishioner her entire life, receiving the Sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation, First Communion, Confirmation, and Holy Matrimony there. Thanks to the example of her parents, Don and Virginia Toenies, Annette has always known the abundant blessings that come from a stewardship way of life.

“My parents have been invaluable role models on how to live a life with God being of utmost importance,” she says. “They have always devoted time and treasure to the important work of the church in our community.”

Twenty years ago, Annette married Sam Kittelson, her high school sweetheart and a fellow lifelong parishioner at Our Lady of the Angels. The couple has two daughters, Emma, 16, and Sara, 14, who are also active in parish life.

“My greatest joy has been to see the involvement of our daughters in the church,” Annette says. “Our oldest daughter, Emma, is an accompanist at both Our Lady of the Angels and St. Paul’s Church, and it makes me so happy that she is sharing her musical talent with the church and loves being involved and sharing her talent.”

By raising their children in the Church, Annette and Sam hope to give them a strong foundation in the faith that will withstand the trials and temptations of high school and college life, and beyond. For the Kittelsons, the cornerstone of this foundation is a sense of gratitude for the many blessings received and a desire to give back to God, His Church, and His people.

“It is important to make time for stewardship, just as if we were asked to make time for anything else,” Annette says. “It has to be a commitment to make it a priority. The blessings that my family and I possess are gifts from God, and I feel that gifts are to be shared. What better way to show my appreciation of those blessings than to give back to my church in any way I can and to instill in my daughters to do the same.”

Thankful for the example of her parents, as well as the countless other devoted parishioners who have been a part of the faith family at Our Lady of the Angels over all these years, Annette prays that the younger generations will continue the parish’s beautiful tradition of active faith and loving service for many more years to come.

“There are parishioners at Our Lady of the Angels who I see now at Mass when I go with my own family who I saw when I was a small child going to Mass with my parents,” she says. “Our Lady of the Angels has many strong, faithfilled parishioners who truly love the Lord. I would like to see more involvement by the youth since they are our future.”

The Kittelson family — (from left) Sam, Emma, Annette and Sara