Marc Kielty has been a presence at St. Francis of Assisi Parish for many years as both a parishioner and a member of the Parish Staff. Marc has meant a lot to so many people in the parish, but nothing better summarizes what Marc has meant to the Parish than Joe Leone’s perspective. Joe has worked many years with Marc and says, “It’s honestly hard to put into words just how much Marc has meant to this place and to those of us who’ve had the chance to work alongside him. He’s been such a steady, reliable presence here, and his impact on both the parish and school community goes far beyond his job. He takes pride in what he does, but more importantly, in the people around him.”
Marc is a life-long North Carolinian who grew up in Winston-Salem as the 3rd of 4 boys. He attended North Carolina State, earning a degree in Sociology/Criminal Justice, and almost immediately entered the Police Academy in Raleigh. Starting as a patrol officer with the Raleigh Police Department, Marc distinguished himself with his service and retired from RPD in December of 2006 as Deputy Chief. However, that wasn’t the end of his service to the community.
After a ‘long’ 6 months of retirement, Father Mark Reamer, O.F.M., hired Marc as Coordinator of Communication, which later became Coordinator of Ministry Support, to define better all that he provided to the many ministries at St. Francis. He served in this role until Ben Whitehouse retired as Director of Finance and Facilities, and Marc became Director of Facility Operations. At the same time, Rob Neppel was hired as the Director of Finance.
Rob and Marc have had a great relationship over their time together at St. Francis. “I have worked closely with Marc for 12 years now at St. Francis,“ says Rob, adding, “as the Director of Operations, I know of no one who works harder than Marc to support this community. Marc usually arrives at work before 7:00 am and stays until about 5:00 pm. Depending on what is taking place in the evening, he may be back to ensure everything is running smoothly. He is also here for several hours on Saturday and Sunday.” Of course, Rob points out, it’s a good thing Marc lives close: “When he is not here, he will still get calls at night when alarms go off, or he may come back to assess potential damage from a late-night storm coming through the area. Then there are late-night calls from the Rectory about ants in the kitchen or something not working.”
Joe agrees with Rob’s assessment of Marc’s work ethos and attitude towards his role, “What stands out most is his consistency and his willingness to help, no matter the situation. He brings a sense of humor that can lighten even the busiest or most stressful days, along with a calm presence that steadies things when they get challenging. Marc has a unique ability to work with everyone, meet people where they are, and find ways to move things forward in a positive, productive way. There have been countless times he stepped in without being asked, simply because he saw a need. That mindset has played a big role in building the strong, connected community we have here.”
Trish Adamkowski, the Parish’s Coordinator of Human Resources, agrees that Marc is a joy to work with and that he has played a key role in creating the loving and welcoming atmosphere here at St. Francis. “Marc is just honestly one of the nicest and most caring individuals you will ever meet. He is always looking out for others, both on staff and outside of his work here. He has such a vast knowledge of how this place works and what our needs are; it is amazing.”
Father Chris Koehn concurs with all the accolades about Marc, but adds, “Marc’s presence on our campus each day helps our ministry in two additional ways. Marc’s first career was law enforcement, and having him here at the church has helped us navigate the realities of keeping everyone safe at the church and in the schools. Marc’s relationships in the community from his former career have been such a blessing to us, and he uniquely lives the witness of safety and compassion he provides.” It also helps to have someone whose personality was shaped by service in law enforcement and his natural-born compassion. Father Chris says, “That firmness of an officer of the law that Marc has balanced with the life of a true follower of Jesus Christ is a true gift to us.”
It was not just Marc’s affability, work ethic, and competence; he was also an example to those he worked with and those parishioners who happened to interact with him on campus. Rob comments: “Marc is even-keeled, never gets rattled, and is always respectful of those he is working with. He has put together a great team charged with maintaining all the physical aspects of the Parish campus.” Joe has worked under Marc for several years. “On a personal level, Marc has meant a great deal to me. He’s been more than just a colleague; he’s been a mentor and a leader who has helped shape me into the man I am today. I’ve learned a lot from him over the years, not just about the work itself, but about how to carry yourself, how to lead, and how to treat people the right way. That’s something for which I’ll always be grateful.”
As his coworkers have described him, Marc is a wonderful colleague, and fortunately, while he is stepping back, he is not leaving completely. He will be moving to a part-time role, but his presence will still be felt. Joe adds, “It’s going to be hard not having him around day to day in the same way. He’s one of those people you just get used to seeing, relying on, and learning from. At the same time, knowing Marc, I don’t think he’ll stay away for too long.” Rob agrees, saying, “As Marc transitions to a part-time status, he will continue working to ensure all our ministries have access to the facilities they need. That alone is a full-time job. St. Francis has not had a better Director of Operations than Marc, and we are lucky he is not leaving, just working less.”
Marc relishes that he will have more time for family: ”My initial plans are to spend more time with family, returning to some volunteer work at St. Francis, and many household chores.” Apparently, there’s always some “facility” that needs maintenance. Marc says, “To kick things off, Karen, my wife, along with my daughter, son-in-law, grandkids, Goddaughter, and her mother are going on an Alaskan Cruise in June.” His wife’s parents still live in Winston-Salem, and they are both looking forward to spending more time with them.
In a parish like St. Francis of Assisi, which defines itself by its dedication to service, it is the staff and parishioners who, individually dedicated to that spirit, allow the achievement of the mission. Marc is just such an example of a life spent in service to others, and he embodies our mission. Please join us in offering Marc our sincere thanks for his service and our well wishes for a continued life well lived. All the best, Marc!
