A funeral Mass for Father Patrick Christopher was celebrated Nov. 7 at Seven Holy Founders Church in Affton. A priest of the archdiocese for 33 years who served in numerous parishes and as a hospital chaplain, Father Christopher died from ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) on Nov. 3 at Hillcrest Care Center in De Soto. He was 65 years old.
Patrick Christopher was born on Dec. 29, 1958, to Sidney and Agnes (Harston) Christopher in Festus. He was baptized on Jan. 25, 1959, at St. Rose of Lima Church in De Soto. He attended St. Pius X High School in Festus, the University of Missouri, Cardinal Glennon College and Kenrick Seminary. He was ordained to the priesthood on Jan. 12, 1991, by Archbishop John L. May at the Cathedral of Saint Louis.
His first assignment was associate pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Crystal City from 1991-92. He also served as an associate pastor at St. Ferdinand in Florissant (1992-96), Sts. Joachim and Ann in St. Charles (1996-97), Epiphany in St. Louis (1997-99) and St. Francis Borgia in Washington (1999-02).
In 2002, he was named pastor of St. Martin de Porres in Hazelwood. He became pastor of Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish in House Springs in 2008, and the following year was appointed dean of the Festus Deanery.
In 2011, he was granted permission to serve as chaplain at then-St. John’s Mercy Medical Center in Creve Coeur, with residence at St. Clare of Assisi Parish in Ellisville. He continued in that role until 2016 and then was appointed senior associate pastor at Sacred Heart Parish in Valley Park. He became pastor of St. Joseph in Apple Creek and St. Maurus in Biehle in 2020.
In 2023, he was diagnosed with ALS and later that year was appointed senior associate pastor at Seven Holy Founders in Affton, with residence at Regina Cleri. He moved to Hillcrest Care Center in De Soto in 2024.
He is survived by his sister Rebecca “Becky” (Wayne) Bliss of De Soto; two brothers, Tim (Colleen) Christopher of O’Fallon and Tom (Connie) Christopher of De Soto; sister-in-law Cindy Christopher and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Robert Christopher and Ronald Christopher.
Burial was at Calvary Cemetery at St. Rose of Lima in De Soto.
