OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — Deacon Scott James Kallal, a native of Jerseyville, was ordained to the priesthood Saturday, June 18, at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Overland Park, Kan., by Archbishop Joseph Naumann of Kansas City, Kan. Bishop Thomas John Paprocki of the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois assisted in the ordination along with Archbishop James Kelleher, retired of the Archdiocese of Kansas City, Kan.

Father Kallal was one of three men ordained that day for the Apostles of the Interior Life, a religious community based in Rome. In addition, one man was ordained a deacon for the community. The founder of the Apostles of the Interior Life, Father Salvatore Scorza, of Rome concelebrated the ordination Mass. Father D. Patrick Gibbons, parochial administrator of Father Kallal’s home parish of St. Francis Xavier in Jerseyville, vested Father Kallal in his stole and chasuble.

The Apostles of the Interior Life offer spiritual direction to university students, priests, religious sisters, and lay people. They also offer parish missions around the country as well as in Italy. The Apostles have a male branch and a female branch. While studying for the priesthood in the community, Father Kallal received his licentiate from the Teresianum Pontifical Institute in Rome in spirituality in 2010 after receiving bachelor’s degrees in theology and philosophy from St. John Lateran in Rome.

Father Kallal celebrated his first Mass of thanksgiving on Sunday, June 19, at Ascension Catholic Church in Overland Park, Kan. where he will serve as associate pastor. As a member of the Apostles of the Interior Life, he was able to assist with spiritual direction, Masses and confessions at the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) summer training at the University of Illinois.

Father Kallal will be honored at a celebration at his home parish sometime in early October.