A Mass of Christian Burial for Father Christopher P. Pinné, SJ, was celebrated April 22 at St. Francis Xavier “College” Church in St Louis. Father Pinné died April 14 in St. Louis. He was 70 years old, a Jesuit for 41 years and a priest for 35 years.
Christopher Pinné was born in Easton, Pennsylvania, on May 27, 1952. He earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and theology at Rockhurst University, a master’s degree at Saint Louis University, and both a bachelor of Sacred Theology and a master of Divinity at Regis College in Toronto, Ontario.
He entered the Society of Jesus on Aug. 27, 1981, in Denver, after acquiring his bachelor’s and master’s degrees. He pronounced first vows on Aug. 21, 1983, and was ordained a priest on June 12, 1987, at St. Francis Xavier “College” Church. He pronounced final vows on Oct. 3, 1994.
He began his Jesuit ministry in 1983 at De Smet Jesuit High School in St. Louis, where he taught religion. Following his theology studies and ordination, he returned to De Smet Jesuit in 1988 as dean of students, religion teacher and counselor.
In 1993, he was assigned to Rockhurst High School in Kansas City, where he taught theology and served as superior of the Jesuit community. He served as interim president there for part of the 1999-2000 school year.
Following a sabbatical, Father Pinné returned to St. Louis, where for six years he was the provincial assistant for vocations, associate director of the advancement office and coordinator of the Alum Service Corps program.
Father Pinné’s life took a dramatic turn in the spring of 2007, when he was struck by a car. Some months later, his back began giving him serious trouble, resulting in the first of three painful surgeries, the last of which left him paralyzed from the waist down. Throughout the ordeal of multiple recoveries and then adjustment to life in a wheelchair, Father Pinné inspired many with his cheerful, hopeful and determined spirit.
During this time, from 2007-11, Father Pinné taught theology and served as chaplain at Regis Jesuit High School in Aurora, Colorado. In 2011, health needs necessitated a return to St. Louis, but always wanting to be of service, he served as chaplain of the Saint Louis University Law School.
Father Pinné returned to the classroom at St. Louis University High School in 2014 and moved to De Smet Jesuit in 2016 to serve as campus minister.
He returned to pastoral ministry at Jesuit Hall in 2017 and moved with his community to St. Ignatius Hall in St. Louis County in January 2023.
He never ceased being the compassionate, encouraging, prayerful priest that so many students and colleagues had come to know.
His parents, Frederick J. Pinné and Alice T. Pinné, preceded him in death. He is survived by his brothers and sisters-in-law: Allan (Nancy) M. Pinné; Frederick “Rick” (Wendy) Pinné III; and Terence (Susan) G. Pinné, as well as his brothers in the Society of Jesus.
Burial was in Calvary Cemetery.
