The Interconnectedness of all Living Things

“Because of my studies, I have grown in my understanding of how every created thing is connected. We are all called to pay attention to this fact and to care for every created thing because the destruction of any of those created things affects humanity,” Father stated. Calling attention to these issues is not only a passion of Father Chris’s but also something fundamental to the faith of all Christians.

Father Chris speaks with profound reverence for the sacredness of water, insisting that, “It is essential that people understand that water is an essential element for everybody. That it is a sign of the Father, a holy element, a sacred element. Better put, it is a sacred element because it is created by God.”  He has made it his personal mission to help inform the Body of Christ about both the sacredness of water and the steps we can take to protect it.

The Gospel of Water Series

In the fall of 2024, Saint Simon Parish in Los Altos hosted the “Gospel of Water” series, a three-part educational series with dinner and speakers from the diocese and SCU. During the series, Father Chris presented on “Water in God’s Creation.” His talk was a sobering chance for the audience to reflect on the reality of water scarcity and contamination in various parts of the world.

Some participants shared with Father that it was the first time they had taken water issues to heart. Presentations included discussions of the much-reported contamination of water in Flint, Michigan, in 2014, the impact of fracking¹ off the coast of Pennsylvania,² as well as the Navajo Nation’s current lack of access to water.³ Locally, residents of Watsonville⁴ recently called out the use of pesticides that contaminate groundwater.  These and other related topics came to the forefront during the series.

Nigerian Roots

Coming from Nigeria, Father has witnessed firsthand how the devastation of water affects the most vulnerable. Recently, Father joined The Valley Catholic’s podcast, “Invited,” to speak about the tenth anniversary of Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si': On Care for Our Common Home. In the episode, he shared that “[i]n the Niger Delta, the environment has been completely devastated from oil exploration.” Following his appearance on the podcast, during this interview, he expanded on the direct impact of this destruction. “If you go to some places in Africa, they are drinking heavily contaminated water — imagine what water they are using to wash dishes.”

Though this reality in the Niger Delta seems far removed from Silicon Valley, Father wants to emphasize that everyone has a responsibility to protect this interconnectedness, wherever they live. Months after ‘The Gospel of Water’ series at Saint Simon, Father reflected, “I observed a modest improvement in understanding water issues and a stronger resolve to use it wisely and advocate for those without access to it.” Father reports being personally heartened by this.

Jesus as the Life-giver

As a priest, Father Chris has found that his relationship with Christ has grown as a result of his studies. A lifelong Catholic, he was an altar boy who loved serving Mass. "Serving Mass inspired me to become a priest. I was ordained at a very young age, and I tell people I don't know anything except being a priest. I enjoy my priesthood to the point I don't imagine myself doing something else.” Father recently received his PhD from the Catholic University of America, and his dissertation focused on the global water crisis. Hear Father discuss his research further at the Invited podcast (see sidebar).

To Father Chris, Jesus is the “life-giver.” He explained, “When I say life-giver, I don’t just mean life after death but also life here on earth. Rather, faith in Jesus gives meaning to my life on earth. My hope in His willingness to always be with me, in all situations, helps me approach life with a relaxed attitude.”

He continued, “My relationship with Jesus is both formal and informal. I talk with Jesus anytime and anywhere, just as I do when I am in the Church, the house of God. For example, when I hike or I find myself at the beach, I see God in nature and I commune with Him and His Son, Jesus Christ, there. In this way, I see God in everything that he created, and Jesus is my friend.”

The Bringing-Together of all of God’s Creation

Father speaks fondly of the love he has received in this country. He shared that, “The love and support I have received in the Diocese of San José has helped me better understand Jesus’ love.  When I think of the kindness of God’s people, it reflects Jesus’ love and compassion toward me. My field of study fuels my hope that His kingdom will be the bringing together of all He created to live in peace and harmony.”

Father is also busy making plans with his priesthood. His hope “is to become a public scholar to raise awareness about issues related to water: its sacredness, the Global Crisis, humanity's fundamental right to it, and the necessity of using it wisely, protecting it, and ensuring that everyone around the globe has access to it.”

1. Fracking is the process of injecting liquid at high pressure to force open existing fissures and extract oil or gas. (Source: Oxford Languages dictionary online)
2. Foodandwaterwatch.org, The Sickening Toll of Fracking in Pennsylvania (Sept 2023)
3. American Bar Association, The Supreme Court and Tribal Water Rights (Jan 2024)
4. KSBW.com, “Watsonville community rally against use of pesticides” (May 2025)