Meet the Priests

An Outreach Priest from Cross Catholic Outreach is an important part of our organization’s ministry. Each weekend, they travel to parishes throughout the United States to share inspiring stories about faithful Church ministries serving the poor in remote locations around the world. Dedicated priests, religious sisters and Catholic laypeople leading those life-transforming missions of mercy. Click on a priest’s photo to view his full bio and invite him to visit your parish. Contact Cross Catholic Outreach by email or by calling (800) 914-2420, ext. 220.

Fr. Timothy Akanson

Rev. Timothy Akanson

Rev. Timothy Akanson was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Tamale in Ghana on Aug. 6, 1988. In addition to celebrating daily and weekend Masses, his pastoral ministry in the Diocese of Charleston focuses on daily visits to the sick and homebound.

Rev. Chris Arockiaraj P.S.S.

Fr. Chris Arockiaraj, P.S.S. is a member of the U.S. Province of The Sulpicians and was ordained in 1995. He is the Vice-Rector of Theological College in Washington, DC. He is fluent in 8 languages.

Msgr. David Benz

Rev. Msgr. David H. Benz

Rev. Msgr. David H. Benz was ordained May 17, 1975 in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. He joined the Air Force as a Chaplain in 1986 and served until his retirement from military service in 1999.

Msgr. Ted Bertagni

Rev. Msgr. Ted Bertagni

Rev. Msgr. Ted Bertagni, ordained a Franciscan priest in 1978 in Omaha, NE, became a Prelate of Honor (Monsignor) by Pope St. John Paul II in 1999. Graduating from St. Louis University, he’s now part of Jamaica’s Diocese of Mandeville. Pope Francis commissioned him as a Missionary of Mercy in 2016.

Fr. Alan Bower

Rev. Alan Bower

Fr. Alan Bower is a 28-year Navy veteran.  He transitioned to the Naval Reserve as a Navy Chaplain the day of his ordination, May 20, 1989.

Fr. Anthony Bozeman

Rev. Anthony Bozeman, SSJ

Rev. Anthony Bozeman, SSJ, is a priest with the Society of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart (The Josephite Community) and was ordained to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia on May 20, 2000.

Rev. Stephan Brown, S.V.D., M. Div.

Rev. Stephan Brown, SVD, M.Div., hails from Cleveland, Ohio, and currently resides in the Diocese of Memphis, Tennessee. A priest of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) order, he attended the unique Divine Word College, the only US Roman Catholic seminary for undergraduates. His theological training culminated at Chicago’s Catholic Theological School, leading to his priesthood ordination on March 27, 1983.

Fr. Nghia Cao

Rev. Nghia Cao, C.Ss.R.

Rev. Nghia Cao, C.Ss.R., was born in Vietnam and has been in the United States for 37 years. He is a Redemptorist priest of the Denver Province and was ordained in 2005.

Fr. Brian Carpenter

Rev. Brian Carpenter, S.T.L., S.T.D. (Cand)

Rev. Brian Carpenter, S.T.D., was ordained a priest in 2009. He earned his Doctorate in Systematic Theology in 2021, and currently serves at St. Matthew Cathedral in South Bend, Indiana.

Fr. Carlos Chavez

Rev. Carlos Chavez

Rev. Carlos Chavez was ordained at St. Francis Cathedral, Sante Fe, New Mexico in 1984. His ministry has served the Catholic Church in New Mexico for 30 years.

Fr. Charlie Collins

Rev. Charles Collins

Rev. Charles Collins was ordained to the priesthood on August 19, 1972 for the Diocese of Rochester, and later became an incardinated priest for the Archdiocese of Boston, from where he recently retired as Pastor of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Cambridge.

Fr. David Denny

Rev. David Denny

Rev. David Denny is a native of Indiana and lives in Colorado. He is a priest of the Diocese of Killala, Ireland.

Fr. Tom Edelen

Rev. Tom Edelen

Rev. Tom Edelen was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Tyler, TX in 2001. In addition to preaching for Cross Catholic Outreach, Fr. Edelen is a Chaplain in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Fr. Paul Farin

Rev. Paul Farin

Rev. Paul Farin grew up in the New York City area and is incardinated in the Diocese of St. George’s in Grenada.

Request a Priest

Outreach Priests from Cross Catholic Outreach are selected for their skills as homilists, fluency in English and ability to accommodate parish customs and preferences during their visits. In addition to preaching on the readings of the given Sunday, they also share about the powerful and inspirational mission work being done by Catholic priests, religious sisters and lay leaders around the globe. Invite an Outreach Priest to visit your parish today!

Become an Outreach Priest

Cross Catholic Outreach is seeking Roman Catholic priests to participate in our Outreach Priest program. They need only be available during some weekends and have no conflicts with their diocesan duties to join this important mission. Contact us today for more information or to ask any questions about this unique and fulfilling way to serve the world’s poor.