Reverend Gerard A. Christianson, died Monday afternoon, Dec. 5, at Moorings Health Care Center, Arlington Heights, Illinois, after a courageous battle with cancer. Father was born on December 9, 1960, in Chicago, Illinois, to Edward Christianson and Margaret Meegan Christianson.
Father Christianson attended Loyola University and Northeastern Illinois in Chicago. Before entering seminary, Father was a Math teacher and directed an alternative school for at risk students. He entered St. Paul Seminary, St. Paul, Minnesota, in 2007 and in 2012 was one of two men in the first class of seminarians to be ordained to the priesthood on May 19, 2012, by the Most Reverend David J. Malloy.
His first assignment was as Parochial Vicar at Holy Family Parish, Rockford and taught part-time at Boylan Central Catholic High School, Rockford from June of 2012 to June of 2015. He became Parochial Administrator of St. Paul the Apostle Parish in Sandwich in June, 2015 and Pastor of that parish in May, 2016. Father was also a Diocesan Consultor and Associate Master of Ceremonies for the Diocese. He also was one of the priest celebrants of “The Catholic Mass” on WREX Channel 13 in Rockford.
Father is survived by his mother and father, siblings Mary (Phillip) Bissell, Meegan (Tim) Gibbons, Edward (Beth) Christianson, Jennifer (Francisco) Rios, Kathleen Christianson and many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.
Mass of Christian Burial will be on Monday, December 12, 2016, at 11:00 a.m. at the Cathedral of St. Peter, 1243 N. Church Street, Rockford. Visitation will be from 3-7:30 p.m. Sunday, December 11 at the Cathedral with rosary at 7:30 p.m. and visitation from 9-10:45 a.m. at the church prior to the Mass. Interment will be at Calvary Cemetery, Winnebago, Illinois. Arrangements are being made by Fitzgerald Funeral Home, Rockford, Illinois.
