April 9, 2010
Chris was ordained for the Trenton, NJ diocese in 1959 and served there until his marriage to Kathleen in 1971. Chris passed away on April 9, 2010 after a lengthy illness. A licensed psycho-therapist, Chris ministered for years to people who were the most vulnerable and marginalized. As his effectiveness as a counselor became known, his workload became more and more demanding. But parallel with this, his ministry to officiate weddings, baptize and bury the dead grew apace. His two ministries intertwined, because he was able to bring to his weddings his added insights into human problems and their implications. So he wrote a book published in 1989, “Making Your Marriage Work: Growing in Love After Falling in Love.” This desire to minister even after he officiated a wedding led Chris to establish a support group for persons going through divorce and separation. Many attest to his unique ability to ease pain and help people redirect their lives. So Chris' life was a seamless garment of ministry; when leaving the clerical state, Chris did not miss a beat in continuing his commitment to work in the vinyard of the Lord. It could be said that the love of Kathleen only enhanced that commitment. We will miss Chris, and especially because Chris's life is a testament to why FCM exists.