About Fr. Chris

Father Chris Valka, C.S.B. was recently ordained a priest for the Congregation of St. Basil in May 2009 and currently serves as the campus minister to the University of Windsor through Assumption University in Windsor, Ontario.

Fr. Chris holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communications/Public Relations from St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas (1997); a Master of Science Degree in Secondary Education/Administration from Canisius College in Buffalo, New York (2006); and a Master of Divinity Degree from University of St. Michael’s College Faculty of Theology at the University of Toronto (2008).

Prior to his association with the Basilian Fathers, Fr. Chris was employed in special event coordination, marketing and public relations fields in both the non and for-profit sectors.  Fr. Chris taught in high-risk, urban high schools for three years before professing vows with the Basilians, after which his primary ministry was at Salt + Light Television.  As a Deacon, Fr. Chris was assigned to St. Albert the Great Newman Parish on the campus of New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico.  Most recently, Fr. Chris taught American Literature, Public Speaking and Microsoft Office at Catholic Central High School in Novi, Michigan.  Additional special assignments have included work at Seton Hall University, the United Nations and World Youth Day 2008 in Sydney, Australia.

In his free time, Chris is also an accomplished marathon-runner and tri-athlete.

Fr. Chris can be found celebrating Mass Sunday evenings (7:30 pm)  at Assumption Parish at the University of Windsor, and at various parishes in the Detroit-Windsor area on Sunday mornings (most commonly at St. Kenneth’s Parish in Plymouth).