Meet Benjamin Kalis: A Son of the Mother of God Family of Parishes

This summer, the Mother of God Family of Parishes is honored to welcome seminarian Benjamin Kalis—a man whose journey to the priesthood has been anything but ordinary. A member of Ascension Parish and a convert to the Catholic faith, Benjamin is now in his second year of seminary at Mount St. Mary’s in Cincinnati, joyfully discerning the priesthood and actively serving his home parish family.

At 35 years old, Benjamin’s story is marked by deep transformation, perseverance, and God’s gentle persistence. He became Catholic 12 years ago, after a rich faith upbringing in a Christian home. Early in his Catholic journey, he discerned religious life with the Society of St. Edmund, taking preliminary vows in Vermont while completing his bachelor’s degree.

Before discerning the diocesan priesthood, Benjamin was a professional chef, graduating from Sinclair with a degree in culinary arts. He worked at the Schuster Center and eventually became Head of Catering at Moraine Country Club. It was there he began to realize that the culinary world left little room for a balanced life. A moment of clarity came when he saw a chef—just a few years older—physically exhausted and emotionally distant from his children. “I didn’t want that life,” he recalls.

So, Benjamin joined the U.S. Army. Initially, he continued cooking, but his exceptional test scores led to selection for language school. Both of his parents had served as linguists in the military, and Benjamin followed suit—studying Persian (Farsi) in Monterey, California. The two-year program was intense, and it was there, amid exams and long hours, that he encountered a Catholic classmate who challenged him to go to Confession every week for Lent.

That regular return to the sacraments awakened something deep within. “I was sitting in front of the Crucifix and couldn’t stop thinking about it—‘Come follow me,’ ‘I’ve given you everything you’ve asked for, now I’m asking you for something,’” Benjamin recalls. “Jesus is not happy on the cross, but it’s a fulfilled place.” At the time, he had a girlfriend, a job, a career path—but none of it brought peace. The call to the priesthood became undeniable.

He applied to seminary with the encouragement of a friend and a military chaplain recruiter. Despite being in year two of a six-year contract, every door that had once seemed closed miraculously opened—including a last-minute permission to leave for seminary without going AWOL. “Every obstacle was removed, but only at the last second,” he said. “It felt like God was just waiting to see if I’d follow through.”

Benjamin chose St. Thomas the Apostle as his confirmation saint—“because we were both doubters.” But the process of entering seminary removed all his doubts. “I don’t know how I could do anything else but be a priest,” he shares. “Some days class is hard, but it’s not just a desire anymore—I feel like I have to be a priest.”

Today, Benjamin is a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Reserves and a chaplain candidate. His future is likely to include three years serving in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati after ordination, followed by five years of active duty military chaplaincy. Ultimately, the Archbishop of Cincinnati and the Archbishop for the Military Services will decide where he is needed most.

Despite the twists and turns of his journey, Benjamin is filled with hope and joy. “I have never been as happy as I am now,” he says. “All of my experiences in life pale in comparison to the potential adventure of being a priest.”

Benjamin chose to spend this summer back at his home parish, Ascension, and in turn serve the MGFP. “I wanted to come back to the people who prayed for vocations—I am the fruit of those prayers. Every time someone said the vocations prayer, they were unknowingly praying for me.”

His presence this summer has also given him hope. “Being here gives me so much hope for the Church—especially the young Church.” He remarks while talking about his time on the MGFP mission trip.

Benjamin will return to seminary on August 12, but will be back to visit during the holidays—his parents remain active parishioners in Dayton at MGFP. “The support of my parents has been huge. It wouldn’t be possible without them.”

Please continue to pray for Benjamin and all those discerning the priesthood. We are so proud to call him a son of the Mother of God Family of Parishes.