Possibly one of the greatest rewards for Sister Christine Wagner, SSJ, has been the founding and subsequent success of St. Joseph’s Neighborhood Center. The Center, which was founded by Christine and five other Sisters, opened in 1994 and provides healthcare and counseling to the areas uninsured and underinsured. “All people whether insured or not, need to be treated and cared for in exactly the same way – that is what we are striving for.”

A Nazareth Academy graduate, Sister Christine entered the Sisters of Saint Joseph after graduating from SUNY Brockport with a B.S degree. She began her religious career at the School of the Holy Childhood as a cooking instructor. In 1979, she taught at St. Patrick’s in Seneca Falls. She then worked at St. Joseph’s Villa from 1981 to 1983 and then became the Congregation’s social justice Coordinator. After one year, she was named the Regional Director for justice and peace at the Genesee Valley Office of Social Ministry. In 1987, she went back to school, earning a Masters and Ph.D. in social sciences from Syracuse University. After graduation, she served again as the Congregation’s Coordinator for social justice while working part-time at Nazareth University. She left those posts in 1995 to be the Executive Director of St. Joseph’s Neighborhood Center.

Currently, Sister Christine serves on several health-related Boards, helping to build health networks which serve the uninsured.