Sister Cristina Marie BuczkowskiMarch 13, 1961-August 27, 2025Professed July 26, 2003
Sister Cristina Marie Buczkowski was born Cristina Josepha Buczkowski in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She was the daughter of Mr. Walter Buczkowski and Mrs. Helen Buczkowski (nee Podlesny) and had four siblings, three brothers and one sister. Her family emigrated to the United States of America when Cristina was 3 years old. As a young person, Cristina attended public schools. She was active in her home parish church, St. Mary Magdalen in Camarillo, California. She graduated from Loyola Marymount University with a Liberal Studies Degree.
Sister came to know the Sisters of Notre Dame through her work as coordinator of the Young Adult Ministry at St. Mary Magdalen Church. One Sister of Notre Dame saw in her the spirit of the congregation and invited her to be an Associate. She readily accepted and became a member of the pioneer class of SND Associates in 2000. Although she considered religious life as a teenager, it was only after becoming an Associate that she understood that she had the charism of the Sisters of Notre Dame and that God was calling her to draw closer to himself and his people through the vowed life.
Sister Cristina Marie spent much of her years of service as an elementary educator. During her time as a missionary in the village of Buseesa, Uganda, she was both a teacher and later the headteacher (principal) of St. Julie Model Primary School. After returning to California, in her efforts to follow in the footsteps of Hilligonde, she opened an afterschool tutoring program in a low-income area. She later served as a house mother at El Ranchito de los Niños in New Mexico, an alternative home for foster children. Most recently, she worked for Catholic Charities in Laredo, Texas, where she lovingly served the immigrant community.
Sister Cristina Marie was known for her deep friendships, her hospitality, her delicious cooking, and her love of Jesus. She followed God wherever she felt he was leading her – which was often to the poor and vulnerable.
A Memorial Mass will be celebrated on September 27, 2025 at 1:30pm at St. Julie Billiart Parish in Newbury Park, CA. Livestream information will be available on this webpage. Sr. Cristina will be interred at Assumption Cemetery in Simi Valley, CA.
To make a memorial gift in honor of Sr. Cristina, please click here.
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