Saint Agatha became “home” for hundreds of young women and men because of Sister Christine’s presence, support and unconditional love…
Sister Mary Christine Rogers (Verna Mary) was born May 30, 1930, in the Bronx, one of four children, one daughter and three sons, of Audley and Doris Atkinson Rogers. Verna attended Saint Anselm Elementary School, the Bronx, Cathedral High School, Manhattan, and worked for one year before entering the Sisters of Charity of New York on September 8, 1949. She received a BA in History from the College of Mount Saint Vincent and an MA in Sociology and Behavioral Sciences from the City College of New York. She later received New York State Permanent Certification for Pre-School, Grades 1–6, and a certificate for Youth Ministry Studies.
Sister Christine’s fifty-three years of active ministry were dedicated entirely to youth. She taught in the elementary grades for six years at Saint John the Baptist, Brooklyn, and at Saint Agatha Home, Nanuet, for twelve years. For six years she served the children as “mother” at Saint Joseph Hall, Brooklyn, and for twenty-nine years tended their faith development at Saint Agatha Home, Nanuet, as teacher and Coordinator of the Religious Education Program. In her retirement years, Sister Christine remained at Saint Agatha and stayed in contact with many of the youth she nurtured and loved into adulthood. She helped organize and participated in their “homecoming” events where she heard their many testimonies of affection.
Saint Agatha became home for Sister Christine in 1964 and it remained so for the next fifty-six years to her death on August 20, 2020. Saint Agatha became “home” for hundreds of young women and men because of Sister Christine’s presence, support and unconditional love for them.
She will be dearly missed by Sister Loretto Thomas Donohue and Sister Robert Marie Fimbel, her loving community at Saint Agatha for all the years she was there. She loved the Congregation, rarely missing a celebration, meeting, liturgy or funeral. She met all with her gracious smile and sincere greeting.
Sister Christine never wavered in her love of the Yankees – there could never be a more devoted fan. She proudly wore their insignia and followed all their games. This past May, on the occasion of her ninetieth birthday, Rockland County’s radio station saluted her, declaring, “God bless you, Sister Mary Christine. Thank you for your 70 years of service as a Sister of Charity. You are indeed ninety and fabulous!”
We rejoice with you now, Sister Mary Christine, as you are welcomed home by your family members, Sisters of Charity and all the saints. Rest in the loving arms of Jesus.
Date of Death
August 20, 2020
Age
90
Wake
Sorce Assumma & Shankey Funeral Home
34 N. Summit Ave.
Pearl River, NY 10965
845-735-4849
Sunday, August 23, 2020, 2–5 p.m.
Mass of Christian Burial
St. Anthony’s Parish Church
36 West Nyack Rd.
West Nyack, NY 10954
Monday, August 24, 2020, 10 a.m
Burial
St. Agatha Cemetery, Nanuet, NY
Missions
Diocese of Brooklyn
- St. John the Baptist, Brooklyn
1952–1958, Teacher, Gr. 3 - St. Joseph Hall, Brooklyn
1958–64, Group Mother
Archdiocese of New York
- St. Agatha Home, Nanuet
1964–74, Teacher - Public School 53M, Nanuet
1974–75, Teacher, Special Class - St. Agatha Home, Nanuet
1975–76, Teacher
1976–2002, Volunteer/Religious Education Prgm
2002–2005, Religious Development Coordinator
Very sorry to hear of her passing. May she rest in peace.
Thank you for your kind words.
I love you. Your unconditional love will always be in my heart. Working with you at St. Agatha is something I am so grateful to have been a part of!!!
Thank you for sharing such a beautiful sentiment.
May Sister Mary Christine RIP!
RIP Sister Catherine I worked with her at St Agatha’s for many years such a beautiful person inside and out my prayers to her family & St Agatha’s family ❤️
I remember Sister Mary quite well. I pray and thank GOD for her quite often. She was quite instrumental in my upbringing. Thank you Sister and may you Rest In Peace.
A wonderful woman of faith I had the privilege of knowing and working with during my 32 years of service at St Agatha Home.
I’ll always remember Sr Christine’s humor, enthusiasm and caring with fondness in the years I worked at “The Home”.
RIP
Elba
I will always remember Sister Christine fondly. She was a wonderfully kind woman. Rest in peace.
Beloved “Aunt V” I will miss our conversations and visits with you and Sister Thomas & Sister Robert.
However I know you are near to me and I can still call on you for your love and guidance.
Love is forever.
Rest in Peace.
Viv Ramos
I adored Sr Mary Christine and enjoyed our conversations. She holds a special piece of my heart and will be remembered always. RIP sweet Sister and thank you for all you did for others, especially children. I send deepest condolences to her family and the Sisters of Charity ❤️
RIP Sister Mary Christine I will always remember you as kind and giving and certainly understanding.
Sr. Christine was truly a rare breed. An integral part of my upbringing at St. Agatha as well the lives of
most. She is gone and sorely missed. But her presence is still gloriously alive and well in the kingdom of heaven. RIP
She was one good source of inspiration, remember sister Mary christines spirit is still alive she knew how too play baseball