Chris Punnett, a priest who ministered to the sick and opposed the death penalty, has died

When news first broke that Chris Punnett, the longtime pastor of St. Camillus Center for Spiritual Care in Lincoln Heights, had died, photos and condolences popped up online.

there There was a picture of him In 2011, he was arrested in a prison in the city of Los Angeles due to the war in Afghanistan. Another photo shows him at an anti-death penalty protest holding a cross with a message “Change the Death Penalty” Written in the center.

The condolences included one from Sacred Heart High School in Lincoln Heights, where he was hailed as “the one.”Beloved president and determined in our nation“

Punnett is remembered as a man who often served as a lone bystander to hundreds of COVID-19 deaths, who led an annual service honoring the unclaimed dead and participated in protests and was arrested dozens of times in the process.

To family members, though, he was “the one who cared the most for us,” said his brother Jim.

Punnett died on October 7 at the age of 68, the family announced.

He is survived by his sisters Elizabeth and Mary Alice and brother Jim. He was the uncle of more than 20 nieces and nephews.

A visitation, rosary and vigil will be held Monday at St. Lucas in Temple City, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

A Funeral Mass will be held Tuesday at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of the Angels Church in Los Angeles.

Father Chris Punnett was arrested after the Interfaith Communities for Justice and Peace USA protest blocked a Los Angeles street in downtown LA.

(Los Angeles Times)

Both the viewing and the funeral are open to the public, while the burial is private.

Ponet spent the last 30 years as pastor of St. Camillus, which is across the street from USC’s health sciences campus.

There he served as the site manager for the Urban Interfaith Chaplaincy Program, where he helped train the next generation of chaplains. He was also director of the Office of Spiritual Care at Los Angeles General Medical Center.

It was at the latter location that Punnett attended to isolated COVID-19 patients during the first year of the pandemic.

Punnett wore full personal protective equipment — a helmet, mask and gown — and prayed in isolation with the COVID patients when few others were allowed to enter, Los Angeles General Medical Center spokeswoman Connie Castro said in a statement.

“Father Chris’ legacy is one of love, service and unwavering faith,” the statement read. “Beloved by staff, patients and the wider community, he leaves a void that will be deeply felt. His memory and the values ​​he instilled will inspire those who knew him.”

The first year of COVID-19 had a profound impact on Pionette.

“I have traveled to death with nine people in one day,” Punnett said in March 2021. “You have to deal with it and put it in context because the next person needs you,” he added.

Punnett also volunteered his time for annual ceremonies and burials Unclaimed dead in Boyle Heightsduring which hundreds of LA County residents are buried together.

“Chris Punnett was, first and foremost, a man of God,” said his sister Dawn. “Everything he did was guided by the message of Jesus Christ – to love others, to care for them and to be kind.”

Punnett was born in 1957 at Garfield Hospital in Monterey Park.

He was the youngest of eight children to his parents, Mary and Frank J. Punnett, who lived in Temple City.

His father fought in the Battle of the Bulge in World War II and came home to serve as a mailman before dying of a heart attack in 1961.

“We grew up in a devout Catholic family that believed in going to Mass every week, that believed in family first,” said Elizabeth Punnett, 78, one of Chris Punnett’s four sisters. “We believed in help and I think Chris really believed in that.”

Ponet was an altar server at St. Luke’s Church, where he attended elementary and middle school.

In eighth grade, Punnett recited Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech for a class project.

“It was then that I thought he would be involved in service and helping people for the rest of his life,” said his sister Elizabeth.

Pont followed his brother, Frank A. PunnettThe English minor seminaries in San Fernando were the now-defunct Our Lady of the Queen and later St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo.

Where Frank turned to a life of teaching, Chris continued his path to the priesthood.

“He loved God and I always thought he would become a priest.” said his brother Jim, 74. “He always wanted to help.”

Punnett was ordained a priest on December 3, 1983, and began his ministry at Our Lady of the Valley in Canoga Park and Our Lady of Claremont before serving more than 30 years as pastor of St. Camillus.

He challenged various causes through a vigorous and politically active life. In 1990, he pressured former GOP Rep. David Dreyer of La Verne to cut Military aid to El Salvador During his country’s civil war.

Called him The First Gulf War was “unfair“And, as Peace Director of the Catholic Peace Coalition, He has fasted against the war glorification

He also took a stand on regional issues, such as legalization Pomona Card RoomWhile he was leading Archdiocese Gay and Lesbian Ministry and the Ministry of AIDS.

One of his many passion projects was the fight against the death penalty. He was a board member Watch the death penaltyan organization that aims to abolish punishment.

“He was always organized and always on the streets,” said Mike Farrell, a former actor and death penalty watchdog attorney.

Punnett’s advocacy led to his arrest at least 30 times, According to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

Still, more than the performance, it’s Punnett’s humility that will stick with him, Farrell said.

Death Penalty Watch hosts an annual gala at the Scrabble Cultural Center to honor those who have fought to abolish the death penalty.

In each of these events, Ponet will often find himself helping others.

“He’ll pull out chairs, he’ll direct people to tables and he’ll do whatever he needs to do,” Farrell said. “There is no one like him.”