Benjamin Simon Seminary Fund 2025-2026

Hello!

My name is Benjamin Simon, and I am a seminarian of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest. I am nineteen years of age and the third of six children in a loving, Catholic family. I grew up in Covington, LA, and for five years I have attended the Traditional Latin Mass.

I began to consider a sacerdotal vocation at age fourteen, viewing such a consideration an obligation to Almighty God in order to give Him the first fruits of my vocation, whatever it might be. As I searched for information about how to become a priest, I often sought opportunities to speak with various religious about their vocation and how they discovered it. I also read inspiring books about the priesthood given to me by friends. All of these piqued my interest in a unique way while exciting a deeper and more profound desire to pursue this path. After years of discernment, fervent prayer, and many visits to our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament, Divine Providence brought me to the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest. After two years for pre-seminary formation (St. Mary's in Rockford, IL, then Kloster Maria Engelport in Treis-Karden, Germany), I will begin my first year of seminary in September 2025 at the Institute's international seminary near Florence, Italy.

Because of academics and duties around the seminary, I will not be able to work in order to pay tuition. The cost of tuition is 750 euros monthly, which is roughly 850 USD. This includes room and board, food, classes, insurance, etc. Likewise, I am raising funds for personal and travel expenses associated with this year, with my total goal being $13,500. Would you please prayerfully consider donating to assist in covering these expenditures for the 2025-2026 academic year? It is only through Divine Providence and the generosity of family and friends that I am able to continue this path. In addition, please pass on this information to anyone you know who may wish to donate.

Note 1: Donations directly to an individual are not tax deductible.

Note 2: As discussed above, my total need for the year is estimated to be $13,500. A surplus of funds from the 2024-2025 academic year amounting to $2,500 will be applied to this goal as the first donation (offline donation), thereby reducing the fundraising gap to $11,000.

Above all, please keep me in your prayers as I pursue the path to the priesthood, and be assured of my prayers for you. Thank you and God bless!

In Christ our King,

Benjamin Simon