Benjamin Madden, OFM Cap., 1933-2023

Our brother Benjamin Madden, OFM Cap., made his transitus to the Lord's eternal life on Friday, July 14, 2023 , at our motherhouse, St. Augustine Friary in Pittsburgh, PA. Ben had been in declining health this past year and found it more and more difficult to maneuver life on his own. Still, given Ben's tenacity, and his desire never to be a bother to anyone, it's unsurprising that his passing was solitary; he didn't bother anyone.

He was born Francis Madden March 10, 1933. His parents, Louis and Clara (Helmstetter) Madden lived in Cumberland, MD, and they were parishioners of SS. Peter & Paul Church where the Capuchins had a large fraternity of young and older friars who were familiar faces as Francis was growing up.

After his education in the parish elementary school, Francis joined a long list of men who would become alumni of the friars' St. Fidelis Seminary in Herman, Pennsylvania. He always enjoyed conversations with the friars and his desire to join them grew by his familiarity with them.

Francis was invested in the Capuchin habit on July 13, 1952, and given the Religious name of Benjamin. He made the novitiate year with a number of notable Capuchin classmates like Thomas Haywood (+1976), Timon Kaple (+1984), Mario Mastrangelo (+2022) and Marvin Justi (+2009). Another classmate, our brother Gervase Degenhardt survives him. They made their first vows as Capuchins at St. Conrad Friary in Annapolis, Maryland, on July 14, 1953, and it's worth noting that his passing was the day before he and Gervase would have been able to celebrate their 70th anniversary as Capuchin friars.

Our brother Benjamin (everyone called him 'Ben') completed philosophy studies at St. Fidelis Seminary in 1955 before moving on to Capuchin College in Washington, DC, for theology and formation for the priesthood. He and his classmates made their Solemn profession of vows in 1956 and were ordained to the priesthood on June 7, 1958.

Ben always towered above his classmates in height, and his energy and stamina were a perfect fit for work as a missionary. Our Province had been given the new mission of Papua New Guinea in 1955, and Ben was ask to prepare for ministry there: He studied Linguistics at the University of Oklahoma and focused on the Education field at Catholic University of America in DC before essentially spending his entire ministerial life as a missionary in in the Southern Highlands of Papua New Guinea in 1960. He was joined in his work be classmate Timon Kaple.

The 50th Anniversary of the mission in 2016

For many of the local people, living as their ancestors had for thousands of years, the Capuchin missionaries were their first experience with outsiders. Ben and his contemporaries were true missionary pioneers. His first assignment was in the mission's main station of Mendi as assistant priest and a Prefect of Studies at the newly initiated schools established in the region. He was on to pastor a new parish in Det which he named after his home parish in Cumberland:  SS. Peter & Paul. He pastored the Cathedral parish of Mary, Mother of the Good Shepherd, in Mendi, soon after the Diocese was formed and led by our confrere Firmin Schmitt (+2005). He was elected superior of the Mission for two terms (1977-1984).

Following a year-long sabbatical in the USA, Ben was appointed as rector of St. Fidelis Seminary at Kap near Madang in 1985 for another 10 years before the need for a Canon lawyer became evident as the mission matured in its Catholic identity. At the age of 62 in 1995, Ben began graduate studies at Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, before receiving his Canon Law degree two years later and returning to PNG to serve as Judicial Vicar of the Mendi Diocese of Mendi and as Administrator of the Cathedral parish.

What's obvious is that Ben had experience in the chuch of the Southern Highlands. His vision allowed him to see what was necessary as the life of the mission grew, and that vigor and stamina that molded him as a missionary allowed him to go where he was needed. In 2006,  he moved to Bomana and taught at the Catholic Theological Institute while serving as pastor of Holy Rosary Church in Six Mile.

After 50 years of mission work in 2011, as Ben neared the age of 80, he returned to the US and ministered in West Virginia at St. Anthony Parish in Charleston, WV, and Our Lady of the Hills Parish in Elkview. He was even asked to return to PNG for a year when his skills and experience were needed (2012-2013). Returning permanently to the US in 2013, he worked as parochial vicar at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Center City, Philadelphia, alongside fellow-former missionaries Roger White and Allan Wasieko. He offered daily Masses and heard many confessions at the parish. Due to failing health and the need for more medical attention, Ben moved to St. Augustine Friary in Pittsburgh in 2020 for his final "assignment" in the ministry of prayer.

Several weeks before his passing from us, the parishioners of SS. Peter & Paul Church in Det, Papua New Guinea, celebrated the jubilee of their parish founding. Bishop Donald Lippert, OFM Cap., and our brother Raymond Ronan, OFM Cap., were present and reported that the people expressed their respect and gratitude for Ben. They remembered him in song, sharing numerous stories, remembering the tremendous gift he was for them and the lasting remembrance he will find in their hearts.

Ben is center in the photo (left) taken at our Provincial Chapter of 2022. To his left is our brother Samuel Driscoll and to his right is our brother Gary Stakem. Gary passed later that year.

 For us, his fellow friars, Ben will be remembered by his outstanding missionary spirit and for his great love for the men and women of Papua New Guinea -- and for his respect and care as a brother. He had  great affection for his family and the friars. To many friars, even as Ben struggled with increasing weakness, it was hard to tell. He had use of oxygen, but he didn't like to be seen with it often. He wanted to appear strong and capable. He remained as independent as he possibly could, and he was never a bother - just the way he wanted it.

Ben was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Barbara, and his brother Robert. Ben is survived by a sister, Anna Vaughan, a brother, Thomas (and wife Gayle), as well as 13 nephews and nieces.

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