FAMVIN WYD 2008 Presenters

Fr Richard Benson CM

Richard Benson, C.M. is a Vincentian Father, a member of the Congregation of the Mission, Province of the West. He has served at St. John’s Seminary, full time, since 1993. Currently he is the Academic Dean and Chair of the Moral Theology Department.He teaches fundamental moral theology, Catholic social teaching (social justice), and Catholic bioethics. He obtained a B.A. in philosophy from St. Mary’s Seminary in Perryville, MO in 1974, and a Master of Divinity Degree and a Master of Arts
   (theology) from De Andreis Institute of Theology, in Lemont, IL in    1978. He was ordained a Catholic priest in 1978. He obtained a third    Master of Arts degree (biological sciences) in 1980 from California State    University Dominquez Hills. Finally, he obtained a S.T.L. (License in    Sacred Theology) in 1990 from the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
   (Catholic University of Louvain) in Belgium and a Ph.D. and S.T.D.
   (Doctorate in Sacred Theology) from the same university in 1993.

Getting to know Fr Richard ...

What does it mean to be a Vincentian?

Being a Vincentian for me is an opportunity to be a disciple of Christ as Jesus defined it: one who is called to bring the Good News to the poor. While that is the heart of the vocation of all the baptized, St. Vincent shines a light on that teaching of Jesus in a very particular way. No matter what ministry I may have as a Vincentian it always must have the evangelization of the poor as its focus or it is not Vincentian. Right now I have the privilege of teaching moral theology at the seminary for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. I teach three courses, Fundamental Moral Theology, Social Justice and Catholic Medical Ethics. These three courses allow me to bring in very Vincentian perspectives about the meaning of the human person, the Baptismal vocation and the connection between Faith, Justice and Charity. I am able to continue Vincent’s vision of training diocesan priests who hopefully will have a love for the poor in their future parish ministry. Being a Vincentian is also a challenge for me to take seriously the five virtues that Vincent told us were like the five smooth stones that David used in his sling as weapons against Goliath. I am called to meekness, mortification, simplicity, humility and zeal. These characteristics make Vincentians different from all other orders when we put them into practice.

What is your favorite song and why?

My favorite song is “Good Vibrations” by the Beach Boys. It reminds us that if we are perceptive then we can all feel God’s overwhelming love as “good vibrations.” Too many people fear God as a judge who is waiting for them to sin, but God is in reality pure love and goodness and our job as God’s creatures is to feel the good vibrations that God has for all his people.

What is your favorite place on earth?

My favorite place in the world is “wherever” God has put me for the moment, because we can find beauty everywhere. I have never been anywhere where it was impossible to find God’s presence.

What do you think is unique and wonderful about being a part of the Vincentian Family?

What is unique about the Vincentian family is that it is the only place where women and men, married, single and vowed, young and old are united in a family with the Vision of Vincent, Louise and Frederick, a family that understands the call to be committed to a love that is both affective and effective.

To see about Sr Catherine Salani DC