Nathan Lies and Wyatt Iseman caught up with Fr. Ben Sawyer to discuss his time at Carroll and new assignment:
Briefly explain your journey to priesthood and how you ended up at BC.
“When I was young, I really didn’t want to become a priest but when I went to the University of Dallas I met young priests and some of my friends were becoming priests so that kinda got to open up my eyes and say wow, maybe God is calling me to be a priest. That desire to serve grew throughout my years of college and I fell in love with our Lord and with our church and I wanted to give myself to the church and so I entered seminary after college. I went to Mt. St. Mary’s Seminary at Emmitsburg, Maryland, and I was assigned after ordination to two years at a parish over at St. Thomas Aquinas. And then I think I remember Bishop Jackels asking me if I would ever be interested in teaching high school and I said absolutely, I love teaching. And so then he assigned me to Bishop Carroll.”
How has being BC’s chaplain impacted your life?
“It has been very beneficial for me in the priesthood to journey with high school students and their families, to be with them in the joyful moments and also when they are struggling. To be able to hand on the faith to them in the classroom, to forgive their sins, to celebrate mass for them, and to give them spiritual guidance when they need it. So I think it has impacted my priesthood because it helped me to become a better priest but it’s been a wonderful four years.”
What are some of your favorite memories and what will you miss most?
“So my favorite memories will include teaching in the classroom, the spring break mission trip to Gallup, New Mexico, the march for life trips, all school mass, and the number of students and teachers that visit me in my office. What I will miss the most is working with other faculty especially the religion department in handing on the faith. I will also miss preaching to the students at mass.”
What was your initial reaction to the Bishop’s new assignment for you? How do you feel about it now?
“I was very excited and I still am excited.”
What exactly will you be doing with this new assignment?
“I begin my Italian studies June 1st for three months and what that will prepare me for is to do advanced theological studies. It’s basically the equivalent of getting a masters. I’ll still be connected to the diocese of Wichita. I will always be a priest of the diocese of Wichita. So my studies will take me away to Rome for two years and then I will return and I will do whatever the bishop asks me to do.”
Do you think Fr. Ben Green will fit in well at Carroll?
“Yeah, I do think that he will fit in very well at Carroll. I went to seminary with Fr. Green for two years and he is a good man and he will fit in well. He will really be able to relate to the students. So yeah, I think the Bishop has left Bishop Carroll in good hands.”