It was sad to hear of the passing of Fr Anthony Gittins CSSp PhD last week. Fr Tony was emeritus professor of Theology and Culture at the Catholic Theological Union, Chicago.
We were honoured to have Fr Tony present the opening keynote address at the 2022 National Catholic Education Conference with Madeline Forde, Australian representative, International Youth Advisory Body, Vatican’s Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life.
In paying tribute to Fr Tony, Maddy reflected on how “a chance pairing led me to find a truly loving friend and advocate in life”.
Fr Tony and Maddy worked over a number of sessions to develop their unique and personal reflection on faith coming from their ‘elder theological’ and ‘youthful ministry’ perspectives.
In memory of Fr Tony and his contribution to the Catholic community, we have published their opening keynote address which was focused on the theme of the conference, The Future is Listening. For wider use of the presentation, please seek approval from the National Catholic Education Commission.
You can also watch Fr Tony’s workshop presentation at the conference titled, Evangelisation as the Mission of Jesus and as Our Mission as Missionary Disciples and Church.
About Fr Anthony Gittins CSSp PhD
Born in Manchester England, Fr Tony was ordained in 1967, after completing his theological studies. He was a priest and a member of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritans).
After many years of missionary work in West Africa and other countries he taught theology and anthropology at the Missionary Institute, London, UK, from 1980 to 1984, and at the Catholic Theological Union in Chicago from 1984 to 2011, where he held the Bishop Ford Chair in Missionary Theology between 1999 and 2008. Since then he has been professor emeritus of theology and culture.
Fr Tony is the author of 15 books on theological and anthropological topics, on mission, and on spirituality. Among his best-known titles are: Bread for the Journey – The Mission of Transformation and the Transformation of Mission, Ministry at the Margins Strategy and Spirituality for Mission, A Presence that Disturbs – A Call to Radical Discipleship, Called to be Sent – Co-Missioned as Disciples Today, Living Mission Interculturally, and The Way of Discipleship.
Fr Tony was not just an excellent academic; in terms of pastoral ministry, he worked tirelessly for 30 years with and among homeless women on the streets of Chicago and then in a soup kitchen run by the Jesus People. For seven of those years, he was part of Genesis House, a community where women work to escape from prostitution.
Family was always very important to Fr Gittins and he is survived by his sisters and brothers and their families.
Read more via the Congregation of the Holy Spirit’s tribute to Fr Tony.
Fr Anthony Gittins alongside Madeline Forde, Australian representative, International Youth Advisory Body, Vatican’s Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life presents the opening address at the National Catholic Education Conference last year.