In the end, it was well worth the wait. A higher power made sure this year’s ordination for priesthood for the Diocese of Salina went on as planned.
Much like the eye of a storm, the June 12 ceremony for Father Luke Friess and Fr. Benjamin King was calm, peaceful and serene at the Sacred Heart Cathedral in Salina on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart.
A major storm had blown through Salina a few days earlier, leaving behind much destruction in its wake and cutting power to virtually the entire city.
Ordination Day dawned sunny to a grateful scenario following an anxious week of waiting to learn when electrical power would be restored to the cathedral.
People came from all around the state, from other states as well and even some from Rome to witness the ordination. For at least two hours in a standing-room-only crowd of all ages in the spacious cathedral, people could forget the turbulent week that preceded this glorious event.
As crews worked furiously to restore power to the city, the area where the cathedral is located took a bit longer to get power reinstated. So alternative plans for the ordination and reception were made to be held at another city parish – St. Mary Queen of the Universe.
Power was restored to the cathedral late Thursday evening – less than 24 hours before the start of the ordination Mass. Therefore, the Mass went on as scheduled at Sacred Heart, with the first blessings by the new priests and reception at St. Mary’s.
Fr. Luke visited about his upcoming ordination a week before the event. One of his comments about his personal journey also could have described the series of events that would immediately preceed his ordination.
“It reminds me that the Lord has His plan, His timing,” he said. “He doesn’t waste anything. Whatever he allows to happen, he brings good out of it.”
Bishop Gerald Vincke’s homily also could have had double meaning.
“God provided for us in a very special way; thank God for choosing these two men to become priests,” Bishop Vincke said as he referred to Jesus’ parable of building a house on a rock.
“Even in the strongest wind,” he added, “Jesus’ Sacred Heart is a solid rock.”
Fr. Luke Friess
Fr. Luke grew up in Hoxie, attended Benedictine College in Atchison, where he decided to explore the possibility of becoming a priest.
After five years in seminary, he left seminary formation for two years for more discernment.
Before resuming his studies at St. John Vianney Seminary in Denver, Fr. Luke spent a pastoral year at St. John the Baptist Parish in Beloit, which also has a Catholic school that serves students preK-grade 12.
“That whole year at St. John’s was one of the most blessed years in seminary for me,” he said. “Being part of their school was part of that, so this next year will be a blessing.”
Fr. Luke was referring to his first assignment in the diocese as a priest. As of July 1, he will take over as parochial vicar at Immaculate Heart of Mary parish in Hays and serve as chaplain across town at Thomas More Prep-Marian Jr./Sr. High School.
He said he is looking forward to “serving in this diocese that I love and have grown up in.”
“I think Fr. Nick (Parker) will be a great mentor at IHM,” Fr. Luke said, “and to get to work at a Catholic school right away after ordination. … I feel really blessed.”
Both Fr. Luke and Fr. Benjamin said Mass at their home parishes on Sunday – Fr. Luke at St. Frances of Cabrini in Hoxie and Fr. Benjamin at St. Thomas More in Manhattan.
Fr. Benjamin King
Father Benjamin King has a heart like Christ. It’s fitting, then, that his ordination took place on the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart. Fitting, also, that his service as a priest will be in the Cor Jesu Apostolate, whose name means “Heart of Jesus” in Latin. The apostolate’s ministry focuses on retreats, spiritual direction and serving from the heart.
Now assigned to serve on retreats and in a special way provide guidance for the students at St. Isidore’s Catholic Student Center in Manhattan, Fr. Benjamin wants his ministry to help young people encounter Christ and take holiness seriously.
“I hope my ministry helps every person to say, ‘I really want to be a saint,’” Fr. Benjamin said.
Raised in a Catholic family, Fr. Benjamin described his upbringing as faithful but ordinary. He attended Mass every Sunday, received the sacraments, and attended Catholic school through middle school. During high school, he first sensed a call to priesthood, though he admits he spent years trying to ignore it.
After high school, he went to university at Virginia Tech, which led him to a post-graduation job in the financial services industry. Despite his worldly success, he said he felt spiritually unfulfilled.
“I knew, something’s got to change,” he said.
So, one day, for the first time in a long time, he went to daily Mass. Coincidentally, the priest’s homily that day was about vocations and Ignatian spirituality. Inspired by the homily, Fr. Benjamin decided to go on an Ignatian weekend retreat. A decision, he says, that changed his life.
“I was really convinced that God was calling me to something,” he said.
Soon afterward, he resigned from his job and returned home to Virginia, spending time working on his family’s hobby farm and training horses while continuing to discern his vocation. He eventually entered formation, beginning more than a decade of preparation for priesthood.
His formation took him to Argentina for five years of philosophy studies and apostolic work before later continuing theological studies in Rome, where he was ordained a deacon in 2023.
Over the past three years as a deacon, he has served on Ignatian retreats across the United States, offering spiritual direction and accompanying young people in their faith journeys.
He said one of the greatest gifts of priesthood that he is looking forward to is being able to accompany people through difficult moments and help them encounter Christ’s mercy directly, especially through confession.
“There might be a person who just needs the right word at the right time,” Fr. Benjamin said. “As a priest, to be an instrument of Christ’s grace in that sacramental way, especially for young people struggling with shame, sadness, or addiction, that’s something I really look forward to.”
Fr. Benjamin said authentic service as a priest begins with listening and understanding what matters most to the person in front of him.
“When Christ encounters people in the Gospel, He catches them where they’re at,” he said. “I want to connect with young people by finding out what’s important to them. Sometimes even what they themselves don’t realize is important.”
Fr. Benjamin says he is eager to continue in this new chapter in his vocation, and he invites all who are considering a religious vocation to discern with openness to God’s will.
He said, “There’s absolutely nothing better and nothing more fulfilling than the life God calls you to.”