Fr. Chris was born in Temple City, California. He was ordained a priest in 1983. Fr. Ponnet is board-certified by the Interfaith Association of Professional Chaplains. Since 1994, Fr. Chris has served as chaplain and Director of the Department of Spiritual Care at L General Medical Center.
He is also the Director of the Office of Catholic HIV/AIDS Ministry for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, a member of the Pax Christi Southern California Leadership Team, and the designated point person for the CMLPG Gay and Lesbian Ministry under Archbishop Gomez.
Fr. Chris is a Pax Christi USA Ambassador of Peace and was honored in 2022 as a distinguished alumnus of St. John’s Seminary. His passion for Gospel justice has led to over 30 civil disobedience arrests. In 2018, a sabbatical to Ireland, Italy, and Belgium allowed him to explore his family genealogy.
Fr. Chris has served on the board of the Death Penalty Focus (DPF), representing the Archdiocese and collaborating nationally with Church-affiliated groups opposing executions. He also represents DPF with California People of Faith Against the Death Penalty.
