Kris Dmytrenko knew, at the age of eighteen, that his vocation would be found in the Church—not necessarily a priestly vocation, but a career in service to the Lord.

This was a new passion for the native of Deep River, Ontario. While he had not been baptized into a particular faith tradition, he was brought up with a belief in God. Dmytrenko was also an ambitious student, intensely focused on his goals—always what he didn't yet have—whether it be the sports trophy or the trophy girlfriend. This all changed with a moment of epiphany, when he realized that the sources of lasting joy in his life were what he always had—his family, friendship, health and natural talents. Recognizing that he did not merit any of these, but that they were given to him, he was filled with an intense joy unlike he had ever experienced.

Thanking God seemed like the right thing to do, so he asked a friend to take him to church for the first time. There, at Mass, Dmytrenko sensed that as much as he wanted to “pay back” God for his gifts, instead, God has much more to give—an encounter with Jesus Christ. Later that evening, in prayer, he welcomed Jesus into his life.

After his Baptism and Confirmation, he enrolled in Religious Studies at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. Campus ministry soon became a passion, which, upon graduation, translated into campus lay missionary work for a student movement called Catholic Christian Outreach. After four years serving CCO at Simon Fraser University and Carleton University, he discerned a move into Catholic media in Toronto.

His first major project for Salt + Light was writing and directing "Reliving WYD 2002", a recollection of the great pilgrimage with the Pope to Toronto. Among other projects, he now produces for Catholic Focus, hosting episodes that analyze social issues and applying a sociological lens to Church life in Canada. He's also a regular contributor to political and pop-cultural debates at the Salt + Light studio's lunch table.

Dmytrenko's personal interests include long-distance running, spotting wildlife, reading the newspaper and, unashamedly, watching TV. He dreams of again hitchhiking through Canada, which, on his first such trip, included a lift from the Speaker of the House of Commons.

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