Reflection from Carlos Benitez
A few years back I attended a men’s spiritual retreat at Camp La-No-Che, a Boy Scout campground near Ocala. Our spiritual director was Father Leo from St. Andrew’s, who has faithfully led this retreat every January for nearly a decade.
That weekend, I felt one of the deepest encounters of God’s abiding presence in my life. I can’t share every detail—partly because words fall short, and partly because some experiences you just have to live for yourself—but I can tell you this: it was real, it was powerful, and it drew me closer to Christ in ways I never expected.
The weekend centered on fellowship, silence, and contemplative prayer. Who here wants to be closer to God? (Yes, yes, I know you all do!) That’s what drew me to La-No-Che, and that’s why I come to daily Mass: to dwell in the mystery of His Abiding Presence—what it means, what it requires, and how it transforms us.
Twelve of us from the Orlando Diocese journeyed together into what I like to call a spiritual “filtering” process. Through silence, meditation, and prayer, God peeled away the clutter in my mind and heart.
I discovered that to draw closer to Him, I must approach every encounter with a beginner’s mind—fully present, open, not clinging to past regrets or future worries. It isn’t easy. At Mass, I often catch myself judging, critiquing, remembering old hurts, or categorizing people and things. But God gently calls me back: Be still. Be here. Be Mine.
I’ve carried many burdens through life. I joined the Army National Guard in 1980 and served for 32 years. I also worked 31 years at UPS, balancing duty, stress, and sacrifice. And this past March, my wife and I celebrated 45 years of marriage—though if you add it all up, that’s over 100 years of pain, torture, and anxiety! (But please, don’t tell my wife I said that!)
Through all of it, God has taught me that His presence is not about escaping life’s struggles, but about being grounded in Him, peeling back the false self and discovering the true self He created.
That’s why I love the Eucharist. The Mass carries us step by step—from gathering, to reconciliation, to the Word, to reflection, and finally to the Eucharist itself: Christ’s Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. Every time I kneel before the Blessed Sacrament, I am reminded of that bivouac in the woods at La-No-Che: silent, holy, and fully alive in God.
But here’s the surprise: another place I feel God’s abiding presence is inside prison walls. For over 20 years I’ve served in Kairos Prison Ministry, bringing Christ’s love to men and women who are broken, forgotten, and desperate. Kairos is about showing inmates that Christ sees them, loves them, and wants to dwell with them.
Jesus said in Matthew 25:36: “I was in prison and you visited me.” When we walk into those prison doors, the inmates don’t just hear about Christ—they see Him in us, through kindness, compassion, and friendship.
In 2018, I stepped into another calling as Program Manager of St. Peter Claver Prison Ministry (SPCPM). Today, I serve as the Executive Director. We currently serve in four Florida Department of Corrections facilities across Central Florida. By God’s grace, we’ve successfully impacted the lives of returning citizens, with over 90% experiencing positive outcomes that lead them away from incarceration and toward restored dignity.
Unlike Kairos, our focus is on reentry: preventing homelessness, reducing recidivism, and restoring dignity. Returning citizens are among the most vulnerable in our communities. Without structured, faith-based support, too many fall back into despair.
SPCPM offers more than services—we offer second chances. Rooted in Catholic social teaching, our mission is a living witness that God’s abiding presence can transform lives, even in the darkest places.
If you want a front-row seat to God’s presence, come serve in prison ministry. Come walk with those who society forgets. Come discover how God’s love breaks chains—both theirs and yours.
My prayer is that you will lift your spirituality to new heights, live with a beginner’s mind, and step boldly into God’s abiding presence. He is here. He is real. And He is waiting for you.
God bless you.
For more information on prison ministry, Kairos or St Peter Claver Prison Ministry contact me at: [email protected] or call me at 716-465-8191
