Former Auxiliary for the Metropolitan See of Philadelphia and Bishop of the Titular See of Binda, Monsignor Cletus J. Benjamin was born in Old Forge, Pennsylvania, to Evan Thomas Benjamin and Mary Corcoran. He attended grade school in Forest City and high school in Scranton and studied at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Overbrook for two years before entering the Pontifical North American College in Rome. He also studied at the Pontifical Gregorian University, where he earned a doctorate in theology.
Benjamin was ordained to the priesthood in Rome by Cardinal Francesco Marchetti Selvaggiani on December 8, 1935. Following his return to Pennsylvania, he served as Secretary to Cardinal Dennis Joseph Dougherty from 1938 to 1943. He then served as vice-chancellor of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia until 1945, when he became chancellor. He was named a Domestic Prelate of His Holiness by Pope Pius XII in 1947, and became pastor of the church of the Incarnation in Philadelphia in 1954.
On August 17, 1960, Benjamin was appointed Auxiliary for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Pope John XXIII, receiving his episcopal consecration with the Titular See of Binda on the following December 22, from Archbishop Egidio Vagnozzi, assisted by Bishops Joseph Mark McShea and Joseph Carroll McCormick, at the Cathedral of Ss. Peter and Paul.
Less than a year after his elevation to the episcopacy, Monsignor Benjamin died from a heart attack at the rectory of the church of the Incarnation of 5th and Lindley Streets, aged 52. He lies buried in the crypt of the Cathedral Basilica of Ss. Peter and Paul between the vaults of Bishop Gerald McDevitt and Cardinal John Krol.
Benjamin was ordained to the priesthood in Rome by Cardinal Francesco Marchetti Selvaggiani on December 8, 1935. Following his return to Pennsylvania, he served as Secretary to Cardinal Dennis Joseph Dougherty from 1938 to 1943. He then served as vice-chancellor of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia until 1945, when he became chancellor. He was named a Domestic Prelate of His Holiness by Pope Pius XII in 1947, and became pastor of the church of the Incarnation in Philadelphia in 1954.
On August 17, 1960, Benjamin was appointed Auxiliary for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Pope John XXIII, receiving his episcopal consecration with the Titular See of Binda on the following December 22, from Archbishop Egidio Vagnozzi, assisted by Bishops Joseph Mark McShea and Joseph Carroll McCormick, at the Cathedral of Ss. Peter and Paul.
Less than a year after his elevation to the episcopacy, Monsignor Benjamin died from a heart attack at the rectory of the church of the Incarnation of 5th and Lindley Streets, aged 52. He lies buried in the crypt of the Cathedral Basilica of Ss. Peter and Paul between the vaults of Bishop Gerald McDevitt and Cardinal John Krol.
Former Auxiliary for the Metropolitan See of Philadelphia and Bishop of the Titular See of Binda, Monsignor Cletus J. Benjamin was born in Old Forge, Pennsylvania, to Evan Thomas Benjamin and Mary Corcoran. He attended grade school in Forest City and high school in Scranton and studied at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Overbrook for two years before entering the Pontifical North American College in Rome. He also studied at the Pontifical Gregorian University, where he earned a doctorate in theology.
Benjamin was ordained to the priesthood in Rome by Cardinal Francesco Marchetti Selvaggiani on December 8, 1935. Following his return to Pennsylvania, he served as Secretary to Cardinal Dennis Joseph Dougherty from 1938 to 1943. He then served as vice-chancellor of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia until 1945, when he became chancellor. He was named a Domestic Prelate of His Holiness by Pope Pius XII in 1947, and became pastor of the church of the Incarnation in Philadelphia in 1954.
On August 17, 1960, Benjamin was appointed Auxiliary for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Pope John XXIII, receiving his episcopal consecration with the Titular See of Binda on the following December 22, from Archbishop Egidio Vagnozzi, assisted by Bishops Joseph Mark McShea and Joseph Carroll McCormick, at the Cathedral of Ss. Peter and Paul.
Less than a year after his elevation to the episcopacy, Monsignor Benjamin died from a heart attack at the rectory of the church of the Incarnation of 5th and Lindley Streets, aged 52. He lies buried in the crypt of the Cathedral Basilica of Ss. Peter and Paul between the vaults of Bishop Gerald McDevitt and Cardinal John Krol.
Benjamin was ordained to the priesthood in Rome by Cardinal Francesco Marchetti Selvaggiani on December 8, 1935. Following his return to Pennsylvania, he served as Secretary to Cardinal Dennis Joseph Dougherty from 1938 to 1943. He then served as vice-chancellor of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia until 1945, when he became chancellor. He was named a Domestic Prelate of His Holiness by Pope Pius XII in 1947, and became pastor of the church of the Incarnation in Philadelphia in 1954.
On August 17, 1960, Benjamin was appointed Auxiliary for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, by Pope John XXIII, receiving his episcopal consecration with the Titular See of Binda on the following December 22, from Archbishop Egidio Vagnozzi, assisted by Bishops Joseph Mark McShea and Joseph Carroll McCormick, at the Cathedral of Ss. Peter and Paul.
Less than a year after his elevation to the episcopacy, Monsignor Benjamin died from a heart attack at the rectory of the church of the Incarnation of 5th and Lindley Streets, aged 52. He lies buried in the crypt of the Cathedral Basilica of Ss. Peter and Paul between the vaults of Bishop Gerald McDevitt and Cardinal John Krol.
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