OBITUARY | Sister Christine Massman, CSJ

A funeral Mass for Sister Christine Massman, CSJ, was to be celebrated Jan. 23 at Nazareth Living Center chapel in south St. Louis County. Sister Christine died Jan. 8 at Nazareth Living Center. She was 99 years old.
Sister Christine was born on Oct. 7, 1925, in Meta, Missouri, to parents John Henry and Anna M. (Wiedinger) Massman. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet in 1945 and was received into the novitiate in 1946 as Sister Mary Joanna. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Fontbonne College (now University) in 1961, a master’s degree as a reading specialist from Cardinal Stritch College (now University) in 1968 and a master’s degree in religious education from Loyola University in Chicago in 1986.
Sister Christine’s ministry began in education, teaching at various schools for nearly 30 years. Her first assignment was in 1948 at St. Margaret of Scotland School in St. Louis, followed by All Saints School in University City in the 1950s and St. Cecilia School in Peoria, Illinois, in the early 1960s. Sister Christine’s next assignment brought her to St. Bede the Venerable School in Chicago, where she taught for 14 years until 1977.
Sister Christine transitioned into religious education. Returning to St. Louis, she briefly served as the religious education coordinator at St. Gregory School in St. Ann. For the next 13 years, she was the religious education director at St. John Bosco Parish in Creve Coeur.
Sister Christine was quiet, committed and dedicated to teaching the good news. As a primary teacher, and especially as a reading specialist, she gave her students confidence that they could read and she spent many hours with them. Fellow teachers looked to her as a mentor and appreciated her guidance.
In 1991, Sister Christine began 20 years of ministry in a variety of roles. She served as secretary for the Development Office of the Salvation Army (1993-2000) and receptionist at St. Catherine Laboure Parish (2000-05). She also offered spiritual direction until her retirement in 2012.
Sister Christine resided at Nazareth Living Center in St. Louis, where she carried out her ministry of prayer and presence until her passing.
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