Father Benjamin Aquinas Arend leas born in Chicago, Illinois, on September 3, 1909, and received his early education at St. Ita's grammar school and Loyola Academy in Chicago. Following two years at Providence College, he entered the Dominican novitiate at St. Rose Priory in Springfield, Kentucky, where he. made first profession on August 16, 1932. Philosophical studies followed at the Dominican House of Studies in River Forest, Illinois, and theological work at St. Joseph Priory in Somerset, Ohio, and the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, D.C. He was ordained to the priesthood in Washington on June 16, 1938 and remained at the House of Studies until 1940 for additional training in the Preachers' Institute.

Father Arend was first assigned to St. Joseph's Parish in Ponchatoula, Louisiana, and then to St. Anthony of Padua Parish in New Orleans where he served as associate pastor

and community procurator until 1946. In the fall of 1946, he was named pastor of Holy Ghost Parish in Hammond, Louisiana, and Vicar Forane for the regional deanery. In 1952, he was assigned to the parish staff at St. Albert the Great Parish in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and in 1954 to St. Vincent Ferrer Parish in River Forest, Illinois. From 1957 until 1960, he served as pastor of St. Vincent Ferrer Parish and then returned to the staff at St. Albert's in Minneapolis, where he served as associate pastor until chronic health problems forced him to curtail full-time activities in 1970.

Father Arend continued to help with parish duties until a severe stroke left him completely paralyzed and unconscious for several weeks before his death on December 31, 1976. Following services at St. Albert's Church, he was buried in the community cemetery in Minneapolis.