Heartfelt Congratulations!
Today the Pallottine Missionary Sisters all over the world celebrate the 100th Birthday of Sr. Christine Bohr, the oldest member of the Congregation. Let us rejoice and be glad!
Dear Sister Christine,
In the name of the entire Congregation I thank you and I wish you all that is good, all the blessings that our heavenly Father can give you at this time of your life. We also entrust you to the care of Mary, Queen of Apostles, and St. Vincent Pallotti. We thank you for your example of a dedicated life in our Congregation and in the Pallottine World. You have touched and changed lives of many.
May this special Birthday be one of joy, gratitude and many graces, as you are celebrated, honored and admired.
Sr. Izabela Świerad SAC
Superior General
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Sister Christine Bohr was born on September 8th, 1920, in Merzig/Saargebiet, Germany, in the Diocese of Trier, as one of five children. In 1938 she entered the Pallottine Missionary Sisters at Kloster Marienborn, Limburg. Later, (in 1949), after World War II, she was transferred to Rochdale/England, for studies. There she was awarded with a BA Degree in Latin and English from the Manchester University. Then at the London University she was awarded a Postgraduate Certificate in Education. In 1977 she has obtained the Bachelor of Arts Degree from the Open University. Most of her religious life she was in leadership, and for many years she held the position of Provincial Superior of the English Province. For fourteen years she taught in the Grammar School in Rochdale and was Deputy Head for many years. Sr. Christine was a hardworking person: In a reference we read: Sr. Christine was a “born” teacher. She was pre-eminently successful, both as a teacher and an educationist; …well respected by all she taught and whom she guided by her own personal integrity and high educational standards.
In 1990 a joyful historic event took place when a new mission was opened in Tanzania, East Africa. The Irish Province of the Pallottine Fathers, who already had been working in Tanzania for many years, were eager to have Sisters on their mission. Sr. Christine visited Tanzania in February 1989. Although nearly seventy years old, she was full of enthusiasm for the proposed mission, and today we can say that she is the foundress. She is a woman of wisdom, great vision, courage, and with a deep spirit of mission. For the next twenty years Sr. Christine supported and guided the new mission with her wisdom and prayer. She worked tirelessly to raise funds for many projects and to support the education of girls, especially those from the underdeveloped rural areas. The mission brought new hope and life to the English Province.
On September 8th, 2020, Sr. Christine is celebrating her 100th birthday. She is the oldest Sister in our Congregation today and is an inspiration to us all. We acknowledge her faith and courage in opening a new mission in Africa, when the English Province was small in numbers. We thank God for the gift of her life and for her years of faithful service in our Congregation. Apart from her work as Provincial Superior of the English Province, for many years, she was a trusted and valued member of General Chapters and Committees in Rome.
May God continue to pour out His blessings upon her and grant her deep peace and joy!
Ad Infinitam Dei Gloriam
