OGDENSBURG, N.Y. — Msgr. Bernard E. Christman Jr., 81, died Sunday, Nov. 11, 2011 in his home at Indian Harbor Beach, Fla. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012 at Holy Name of Jesus Church in Indialantic, Fla. Visitation will be one hour before the liturgy at the church. Burial will be at St. Joseph Cemetery at Palm Bay, Fla.
Msgr. Christman was born on Nov. 5, 1931, in Akron, Ohio, son of Bernard E. Christman and Helen Charlton Christman. He attended grade school and high school in Ohio, later attending Ohio State University for two and one half years. Msgr. Christman studied for the priesthood at St. Joseph's Seminary in Louisiana, St. Meinrad's in Indiana and Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. He earned advanced degrees in music from Ohio State and Catholic University. Msgr. Christman was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Ogdensburg on May 16, 1959 at St. Mary's Cathedral by the Most Reverend James J. Navagh.
After Msgr.'s first assignment as assistant pastor at Holy Family, Watertown, he served in St. Patrick's, Rouses Point, St. Patrick's, Brasher Falls, as administrator of St. Andrew's, Norwood, and pastor of Sts. Philip and James, Lisbon and St. John the Evangelist, Morristown. During this last assignment he was appointed Editor of the North Country Catholic in 1971, and was reappointed in 1974. During Msgr. Christmans tenure the diocesan newspaper received several awards from the Catholic Press Association, including a first place for general excellence for two years.
In 1992, Msgr. was named Prelate of Honor with the title of Monsignor. He served as a member of the Diocesan Council of Priests and the North Country Catholic editorial board. In 1982, he was named pastor of St. Peter's in Lowville. In 1996, Msgr. Christman was named pastor of St. Bernard's in Lyon Mountain and chaplain of the Lyon Mountain Correctional Institution. After his retirement in 2005, Msgr. Christman moved to Indian River Beach, Fla. in the Diocese of Orlando. Msgr. Christman helped out in Holy Name of Jesus Church in Indialantic, Fla. prior to his death.
