Rev. Christopher G. Roberts
Deceased: 2020-10-10
Diocese: LAFAYETTE IN INDIANA
Seminary Graduation Year: 2007
Father Christopher G. Roberts, 41, faithful priest of the Diocese of Lafayette and pastor of St. Paul Catholic Church, Marion, died on Oct. 10, 2020. Christopher was born in Logansport on Feb. 17, 1979, to George H. and Bernadine A. (Steinbart) Roberts.
Christopher was 1997 graduate of Logansport High School, where he was valedictorian and excelled in extracurricular activities and athletics: debate, band (saxophone), basketball, football, and track. He continued his education at Harvard University and he graduated magna cum laude in 2001. His calling to the priesthood came from his experience at Harvard and after graduating he pursued the vocation at Pontifical College Josephinum Seminary and the North American College Seminary Rome with studies at the Gregorianum. Christopher was ordained in 2007 and diligently began his priestly career as associate pastor at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church, Carmel. As an associate pastor, he was then assigned to St. Francis Newman Center at Ball State University and St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, Zionsville.
In the years following, he was the administrator and pastor of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Union City, and St. Joseph Catholic Church in Winchester; resident priest at St. Patrick Catholic Church, Kokomo; and Pastor at Holy Family Catholic Church in Gas City.
Father Christopher had a deep devotion to prayer and a commitment to fasting and encouraged others to do so. His passion for celebrating the Mass was quite well known. He was an active participant in the revival of the Latin Mass, and was known widely as a brilliant homilist. Above all, he was a great scholar and teacher of the faith who shared his love of God by example and through his daily work with the many faith communities he served. Father Christopher recently completed his post graduate studies in Mariology (STL) at the University of Dayton. Having gained fluency in Spanish through studies in Mexico and Spain, Father Christopher served the Hispanic community with dedication in all of his assignments.
Father Christopher took physical fitness seriously and managed to run and workout at the gym on a regular basis despite his hectic schedule. He also enjoyed a good cigar in the company of his brother priests and sometimes indulged in great gelato. He shared his love of travel with friends and parishioners through pilgrimages to such places as Cuba, Italy, Spain, Turkey, and the United Kingdom. As a scholar of John Henry Newman, Christopher had a spiritual connection to Oxford, where he visited to pray and expand his theological understanding.
He is survived by his parents, George H. and Bernadine A. Roberts, Logansport; siblings, Amy B. (Gary) Koepfer, Milan, Michigan; Theron B. Roberts, Granger, Indiana; Allison C. (Dan) Weninger, New Braunfels, Texas; Courtney S. Roberts, Bethesda, Maryland; Tiffany B. B. Roberts, Peru, Indiana; four nieces and 10 nephews and their nine children.
Visitation will be held from 3 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2020, in All Saints Catholic Church, 112 E. Market St., Logansport, Indiana. The rosary service will begin at 7 p.m. The private funeral Mass will be celebrated at 2 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2020, in St. Paul Catholic Church, with the principal celebrant, Most Rev. Timothy L. Doherty and the Priests of the Diocese of Lafayette. Covid-19 restrictions with masks and social distancing are required at both events. Owen-Weilert-Duncan Funeral Home, Marion Chapel, 2722 S. Washington St., Marion, Indiana, was entrusted with the arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, donations to Saint Paul are very much appreciated. Online condolences may be made at www.owenweilertduncan.com.
