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HERALD PROFILES Wednesday May IS II Holy Cross Father Ken likes job variety people Fostering a reward for mother of three In Just a couple of weeks itll be Ken Miskiewiczs pronounc ed Miska first anniversary with the Holy Cross Roman Catholic Church was June when 39- year old former teacher Joined Father Dave Cote at Holy Cross replacing the departed Father Con Mohoney as associate pastor A warm friendly man Father Ken has on easy smile and comfortable manner He wears the traditional black shirt and suit with the white collar a uniform that Father Ken says makes getting dressed an easy matter in the morning 1 like best the variety involved In the work he says of parish work Very rarely is it exactly the same mainly because youre working with people Holy Cross is Father Kens first full time job parish priest Before that he filled in at the Hamilton and parishes before coming to Georgetown It was after seven years of leaching Grade pupils at a Catholic School In the town of bet ween Stratford and that Father Ken decided to go back to university He spent four years studying neology at St Peters Seminary in Ontario a school connected With the University of Western On It was a big decision but you go Into it with the idea you re going to find out Father Ken said It t until the last year that students final plunge those four years and stranger still when he learned one of his teachers was a fellow pupil from his earlier university days We remembered each other and he was a good teacher one of the best so that made it enjoyable he laughed As a parish priest Father Ken still gels into the classroom fairly He likes the less formal way he can visit with students Theres no longer a lesson plan tucked under his arm nor a long njghl of marking ahead Father Ken likes that Now I slay up late doing other things he laughed referring to the many evening meetings Holy Cross parishioners hold For some groups Its just being there as a sign of connection with the parish If Im asked for advice I give It That also part of his job giving guidance At least once during the day he celebrates mass at Holy Cross Thats followed by prayer and a visit to one of the Catholic schools in town tionFatherKensala He enjoys the school visits because they allow children to get to know their priest In a different way than seeing him in the church set ting Father Ken Mlsklewlci Father Ken prepared the Grade for their first confession and first communion so they wont be frightened for it and the confession will be more like a friendly chat he said The Grade are so open and friendly some of them come up and give me a hug Thats nice It shows theyre not afraid of me and It will help in the coming yenre Father Ken said There are times when being a parish priest can be emotionally draining and he needs time alone I sometimes find that difficult because youre on call all the time and there are times when you need a break or a rest and some people dont understand Most people are very good about it Father Ken said It can be pretty demanding In timeandencrgy Once week Father Ken makes a trip to the Georgetown District Memorial Hospital and visits Catholics staying there Some arc familiar faces while others are new to him They all appreciate the visit especially the ones who have chronic Illnesses and have been in hospital fora long time But the most Important port of the day for me is when I celebrate moss If I dont celebrate mass theres something missing from my day because that s what Im ordain to do Everything else comes after It in importance otherwise 1 d be no different from a teacher or social worker In what I do Father Ken said EDITORS NOTE- The following article by Sheridan College Journalism student Angela Blackburn describe some of the rewards and challenges of fostering adolescents In ton community For more information on fostering please call the Foster Care Department it the Italian Children i Aid Society at or Carol Cctsti cant imagine having an executive position that would be more challenging or rewarding than fostering teenagers really need good communi cation and negotiating skills commit ment and respect for yourself and others says the mother of three who has opened her homo to eight foster children during the past six enjoy working with teenagers they have their own views so its important to listen to hem and work closely with them In teaching how to cope with lifes problems Mrs Coish says adding teens require an a bund an of emotional and mental support Mrs credits her banker husband and their three children Kevin IS Cindy IT and Ron 15 with making fostering a true family experience When we went into fostering we did it as a family she stresses My children arc my biggest support system and my cheering section says Mrs Colsh At present the have three foster teens living in their home Mrs admits fostering is sometimes difficult but odds Its like any Job Its difficult at times but you work It out and know there ore good limes ahead Often a socalled honeymoon period occurs meaning foster children ore on their best behavior due to the trauma or entering a new home However Mrs Colsh says shes only had one child on the honeymoon period The rest come in with a real bang and I like it thai way We both know where we stand You have to get them to come out of themselves Some teens need to be assured that they are good people and that ihcy have good stuff In them Mrs says There Is a big need for foster parents for teens and also for parents who will take teenagers in on the Independence Program notes Mrs who has one child from program who works full time The Independence Program Is for children who have been CAS wards and arc of legal age It eases kids out Into society in a pleasant way by giving them the back up of a family if they need it but also allows them to be independent she explains The have had one foster child since he was nine hes now is A CAS ward goes to court every three months at which time his stay In a foster home is adjusted until he returns to his natural parents Crown wards do not return to their parents Foster parents work with natural parents as well The goal of CAS is to solve problems and reunite families notes Mrs adding although she Is sad to see a child leave most strongly desire to return to their natural parents Mrs says theres a lot of support for foster parents You never have to fear being left alone to cope the social workers I hove hod have been just super fantastic They are quick to respond and extremely helpful Foster parents should be committ ed caring flexible and must really like children and be willing to hong in there but you don have to be super perfect says Mrs I think there ore a lot of people out there who should give fostering a try it not as hard as you think it is always hear so many negative things about fostering but there are also a lot of good things about Mrs says TRIO PHOTO FINISHING JNSINCEORCEIOWI MOORE PARK PLAZA 128 Main SI North HILLS PLAZA 235 St Hwy 7