Cletus Joseph Benjamin (May 2, 1909 – May 15, 1961) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church . He served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia from 1960 to 1961.
Biography
Cletus Benjamin was born in Old Forge , Pennsylvania , to Evan Thomas and Mary (née Corcoran) Benjamin.[ 1] He attended grade school in Forest City and high school in Scranton .[ 1] He studied at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Overbrook for two years before entering the Pontifical North American College in Rome .[ 1] He also studied at the Pontifical Gregorian University , where he earned a doctorate in theology .[ 2]
Benjamin was ordained to the priesthood by Cardinal Francesco Marchetti Selvaggiani on December 8, 1935.[ 3] Following his return to Pennsylvania, he served as secretary to Cardinal Dennis Joseph Dougherty from 1938 to 1943.[ 1] He then served as vice-chancellor of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia until 1945, when he became full chancellor.[ 2] He was named a domestic prelate by Pope Pius XII in 1947, and became pastor of the Church of the Incarnation in Philadelphia in 1954.[ 2]
On August 17, 1960, Benjamin was appointed auxiliary bishop of Philadelphia and titular bishop of Binda by Pope John XXIII .[ 3] He received his episcopal consecration on the following December 22 from Archbishop Egidio Vagnozzi , with Bishops Joseph Mark McShea and Joseph Carroll McCormick serving as co-consecrators , at the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul .[ 3]
Less than a year after his elevation to the episcopacy, Benjamin died from a heart attack at the Church of the Incarnation, at age 52.[ 2]
References
External links
Ordinaries Churches Education
Priests Miscellany