Sr. Christine Scherer Celebrates 60th Jubilee as a Daughter of Wisdom

Sr. Christine Scherer (Sr. Louis Marie of Christ) is celebrating her 60th Jubilee this year. Born on August 17, 1943, in Brooklyn, New York, to her parents Louis and Helen, she attended Our Lady of Wisdom Academy in Ozone Park, New York, from 1958 to 1961 and entered the Novitiate on August 1, 1961. Her Parish at Entrance was Holy Child in Richmond Hill, New York. Sister Christine made her First Profession of Vows on February 2, 1963.

Reflecting recently on her many years of religious life, Sr. Christine recalled the extraordinary blessings of serving as Religious Education Coordinator at St. Matthews in Brooklyn, with an enrollment of 800 children and 65 volunteer Catechists during the program's height. "What was really great was the Catechists' willingness to volunteer, to give their time teaching, for meetings, and retreats. I was really blessed to have all those people," said Sr. Christine. "Some of the people would say, 'I don't even know how to teach,' and I would say, 'You have your life and your faith to share, and that's what's most important. I believe in you, and I'm here to support you.'" The program grew to be so large that it was held in multiple parish buildings, and Sr. Christine recalls running from building to building, visiting classrooms to support the Catechists.

Another major highlight of her past 60 years was living in the Bethany House community in Brooklyn, New York, where she and the other Sisters living there were able to provide temporary housing for abused women until the women could gain independence, thanks to the support of the pastor of the parish of St. Matthew. "It was wonderful, and we were just so blessed that were able to do that, that we were able to help those women," said Sr. Christine. She also felt very blessed to live in the multicultural environment of her neighborhood in Brooklyn, in her convent house on the corner of Eastern Parkway and Utica Avenue, where she was able to step out her door to grocery shop and learn about the food and music of people of many different cultures.

Sr. Christine began her teaching ministry as a Teacher at Gate of Heaven in Ozone Park, New York, from 1964 to 1966. She then moved to Virginia for a couple of years, teaching at Montfort Academy in Fredericksburg, Virginia, from 1966 to 1968. She returned to New York as a Special Education Teacher at Maryhaven in Port Jefferson from 1972 to 1974. She became the Directress of Initial Formation in Brooklyn, New York in 1974, serving until 1979.

Sr. Christine's higher education included attending Seat of Wisdom in Litchfield, Connecticut, and Fordham and New York, New York, from 1961 to 1965 and again in 1974, receiving Teaching Certification in Nursery through Grade Six and Special Education. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from Catholic University in Washington, DC, in 1971, her Master of Science in Special Education from Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York, in 1972, and a Master of Science in Christian Spirituality from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska in 1980.

In 1980, Sr. Christine began serving as Religious Education Coordinator for St. Matthew, Brooklyn. She oversaw an extensive, flourishing program for several decades before moving on to serve as Religious Education Coordinator at St. Raphael Church in Queens from 2012 to 2018.

In her retirement, Sr. Christine enjoys her quiet prayer time and living in community with Sisters in Islip, New York. We joyfully wish Sr. Christine abundant blessings on the occasion of her 60th Jubilee, with deep gratitude for her years of service to others.