Fr. Benjamin F. Madden, OFM Cap., died at St. Augustine Friary in Pittsburgh, PA, on Friday, 14 July 2023. He was 90.

He was born on 10 March 1933 to Louis and Clara (Helmstetter) Madden in Cumberland, Maryland. At his baptism at SS. Peter & Paul Church he was given the name Francis.

After attending the parish grade school, Francis was accepted into St. Fidelis Seminary in Herman, Pennsylvania.

On 13 July 1952, Francis was invested in the Capuchin habit and received the name Benjamin. One year and a day later, Brother Ben made his first vows as a Capuchin friar at St. Conrad Friary in Annapolis, Maryland. His death was exactly 70 years since his first profession of vows.

Br. Ben completed philosophy studies at St. Fidelis Seminary in 1955 and moved to Capuchin College in Washington, DC, for theology and formation for the priesthood. He made solemn vows on 14 July 1956 and was ordained to the priesthood on 7 June 1958.

In preparation for his assignment to the mission in Papua New Guinea, the newly ordained friar studied linguistics at the University of Oklahoma and education at Catholic University of America.

Fr. Ben began his missionary service in the Southern Highlands of Papua New Guinea in 1960. He arrived only four years after the first Capuchins had begun missionary work in the region. For many local people, living as their ancestors had for thousands of years, the missionaries were their first experience with outsiders. Fr. Ben and his contemporaries were true missionary pioneers in the Southern Highlands.

Fr. Ben's first assignment was in Mendi as assistant priest and prefect of studies.

He remained in Mendi until 1967 when he was named pastor in Det. Fr. Ben named the new parish after his home parish in Cumberland, SS. Peter & Paul.

In 1974 he was named administrator of the Cathedral Parish, Mary, Mother of the Good Shepherd, in Mendi. Three years later he was selected to be the Superior of the Capuchin missionaries, a post he held for seven years.

After a year-long sabbatical in the US, Fr. Ben was appointed in 1985 to serve as rector of St. Fidelis Seminary at Kap near Madang, on the northern coast of Papua New Guinea. He directed and taught at the seminary for ten years.

In 1995 Fr. Ben began graduate studies at Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. Two years later with a degree in canon law, he returned to Papua New Guinea and served as judicial vicar of the Diocese of Mendi, as well as administrator of the Cathedral parish.

In 2006 he moved to Bomana and taught at Catholic Theological Institute while serving as pastor of Holy Rosary Church in Six Mile.

After 50 years of mission work, Fr. Ben returned to the US and ministered in West Virginia at St. Anthony Parish in Charleston and Our Lady of the Hills Parish in Elkview.

However, his skills were needed in Papua New Guinea, and he was asked to return for one year.

Fr. Ben returned to the US for good in 2013. For seven years he was parochial vicar at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Center City Philadelphia. He offered daily Masses and heard many confessions at the parish.

Due to failing health and need for medical attention, Fr. Ben moved to St. Augustine Friary in Pittsburgh three years ago.

Several weeks before his passing, the parishioners of SS. Peter & Paul Church in Det celebrated the jubilee of the parish founding. Bishop Donald Lippert and Brother Raymond Ronan were present and reported that the people expressed their respect and gratitude for Fr. Ben, remembering him in song and numerous stories.

Fr. Ben will be remembered for his outstanding missionary spirit and great love for the people of Papua New Guinea.

He had great affection for his family and the friars.

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

Visitation will be on Wednesday, 19 July, from 6PM to 7:30PM, followed by a Wake Service at St. Augustine Friary, 221 36th Street, Pittsburgh, PA.

Visitation will also be on Thursday, 20 July, from 6PM to 7:30PM, followed by a Wake Service at Scarpelli Funeral Home, P.A., 108 Virginia Avenue, Cumberland, MD.

The final visitation will be on Friday, 21 July, at 10:30AM, followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 11AM at SS. Peter & Paul Shrine, 125 W. Fayette Street, Cumberland, MD.

Interment will immediately follow the Mass, SS. Peter & Paul Cemetery, Friars' Plot, Cumberland, MD.

Professional services are provided by D'Alessandro Funeral Home (Pittsburgh) and Scarpelli Funeral Home, P.A. (Cumberland).

Memorial donations may be made to the Capuchin Friars of the Province of St. Augustine (220 37th Street, Pittsburgh PA 15201).