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Cletus Joseph Benjamin

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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

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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

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  1. ^ a b c d O'Donnell, George Edward (1964). St. Charles Seminary, Philadelphia: A History of the Theological Seminary of St. Charles Borromeo, Overbrook, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1832-1964. American Catholic Historical Society.
  2. ^ a b c d "BISHOP BENJAMIN, 52, DIES IN PHILADELPHIA". The New York Times. 1961-05-16.
  3. ^ a b c "Bishop Cletus Joseph Benjamin". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.[self-published source]
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Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
Auxiliary Bishop of Philadelphia
1960–1961
Succeeded by