In Pace Christi

Benno was born on 14^th March 1936, in Schwäbisch Gmünd (Germany). In 1950 he entered the Comboni Seminary of Ellwangen. In May 1957, he began his novitiate in Bamberg and on 1^st May 1959 he made his first vows. He continued with his theological studies while still in Bamberg, where on 29^th June 1962, he made his perpetual profession. On 28^th July 1963, he was ordained a priest in the city cathedral by Archbishop Josef Schneider.

Father Benno dreamt of the mission in Africa and the superiors agreed, sending him to South Africa where he arrived in February 1964, at Maria Trost, the first missionary station opened in 1924 by the German Comboni Missionaries, in the Diocese of Lydenburg, and for a long time the provincial residence. He stayed there until the end of the year, dedicating himself to the study of the language.

On 1^st January 1965, he was assigned to the parish of Middleburg as assistant pastor. Two years later, he moved to Belfast as the Parish Priest. From July 1972 to June 1976, he was the Parish Priest of Burgersfort, and from 1978 to 1983, of the parish of the Sacred Heart in Witbank. In 1987, he became vice provincial of the unified Comboni province of South Africa (MFSC and FSCJ).

After 19 years of uninterrupted presence in South Africa, in June 1983 Father Benno received a letter from Father Salvatore Calvia, superior general, with his new appointment: the German-speaking Comboni Province (DSP).

On 1^st July 1983, he was superior of the Missionshaus Josefstal, in Ellwangen. In 1985, he was the vice provincial. In 1990, he was appointed provincial secretary of formation. In July of the same year, he was superior of the Neumarkt Mission Animation Centre. In November, he returned to Ellwangen, in charge of vocations promotion until December 1991.

On 1^st January 1992, Father Benno was sent to inaugurate the new Comboni house in Halle, in former communist East Germany, in the Diocese of Magdeburg, intended as a centre not only for mission promotion among the Catholic community, but also for welcoming and human promotion among the “non-EU citizens” (immigrants from outside Europe). He remained there until the end of December 1998.

Meanwhile, the superiors proposed to Father Benno that he return to Ellwangen, as head of the missionary animation program of the Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart, but Father Benno, after 15 years given to his home province, felt he ought to return to South Africa. On 1^st January 1999, he was assigned to the parish of the Holy Trinity of Elukwatini, in the Diocese of Witbank, devoted to ministry. Six months later, he was appointed parish priest. In January 2002, he was vice provincial. In July 2003 he became pastor of Witbank Cathedral and on 1^st January 2005 he began his service as the provincial of South Africa.

On 1^st July, he became the superior of the Missionshaus Josefstal, in Ellwangen. In 1985 he was vice provincial. In 1990, he was appointed provincial secretary of formation. In July of the same year, he was superior of the Neumarkt Mission Animation Centre. In November, he returned to Ellwangen, in charge of vocation promotion until December 1991.

On 1^st January 1992, Father Benno was sent to inaugurate the new Comboni house in Halle, in the former communist East Germany, in the Diocese of Magdeburg, intended as a centre not only for missionary awareness of the Catholic community, but also for welcoming and promoting human among the “non-EU citizens” (immigrants from outside Europe). He remains there until the end of December 1998.

Meanwhile, the superiors proposed to Father Benno that he return to Ellwangen, as head of the missionary animation program of the Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart, but Father Benno, after 15 years given to his home province, feels the need to return to South Africa. On 1^st January 1999, he was assigned to the parish of the Holy Trinity of Elukwatini, in the Diocese of Witbank, attached to the ministry. Six months later, he was appointed parish priest. In January 2002, he was vice provincial. In July 2003 he was pastor of Witbank Cathedral. On 1^st January 2005, he was elected provincial.

“I met Benno for the first time when he was provincial superior in South Africa – writes Father Jeremias dos Santos Martins in his testimony –. From the start he seemed very jovial and welcoming. He was passionate about everything related to evangelisation, vocations promotion and the ongoing formation of the confreres. He loved people and lived for them: he appreciated their stories, shared their challenges, and encouraged them. He was very keen on friendship. He was ready to travel many kilometres to meet a friend and enjoy a brief moment of leisure and friendship with him. In addition to being a ‘singer’ in name and in fact, he was also a very skilled violinist. And he has always loved beekeeping: his usual gift to the communities he visited was inevitably a large jar of good honey from his hives!” […]

“The Marriage Encounter movement in South Africa was also very close to his heart and he had many good friends among those couples. ‘Every time I organise one – he said – it is always a joyful experience for me. I know it is a very important apostolate because a good family is truly a ‘small church’ and a splendid living cell of society’. When Benno got passionate about something or considered a certain topic relevant, you could be sure that he would never give up and he would bother you every time he met you in order to clarify his point of view with you. He was always exceptionally positive and creative!”.

In June 2007, the poll (straw ballot) was held in view of the consultation for the election of the new provincial. The survey indicated the clear will of the confreres to confirm Father Benno at the helm of the province, but he promptly gave up his “passive vote”, saying that the province needed “new” leadership.

On 1^st January 2008, Father Benno was engaged in ministry in the parish of Waterval. Shortly thereafter, he was assigned as superior to the community ministry of Zola Soweto parish. He was granted permission to attend some refresher courses in South Africa. On 29^th July 2009, the Comboni community of Zola moved to Phiri, also in Soweto, where Father Benno was appointed superior. He remained there until the end of December 2014. On 1^st January 2015, he was assigned to the parish of Orange Farm, in the Diocese of Johannesburg, as community bursar. On 1^st June 2016, he was chosen as the probus vir of the province.

In February 2018, the provincial superior proposed that he take over the pastoral care of the small community of Mahube Valley, in the township of Pretoria. He asks for two days to think about it. Finally, he replies: «I’ve thought about it. I am 82 years old, but in excellent health. I accept”.

He remained in Mahube Valley until the end of 2022. On 1^st January 2023, Father John Baptist Keraryo Opargiw, first formator of the international scholasticate of Pietermaritzburg, was elected provincial superior. Father José Aldo Sierra Moreno, the second formator, left alone, asked to be accompanied by a confrere. Who better than Father Benno? The superiors offered him the post which Father Benno, as usual, accepted. After all, the nearby parish would give him ample room for apostolate. Father Jeremias recalls: “Even among the young candidates, Benno was always joyful, always aware of his limitations and ready to recognise them. What a good example for scholastics!”

In May 2023, Father Benno suffered a stroke and was taken to hospital. On the 15^th, he was discharged and returned to the community where he could begin a period of convalescence but he died there on the 16th. On his desk was a plane ticket to Germany, where he had organised the 60^th anniversary of his priestly ordination, in Bamberg Cathedral. The date of the flight: 16^th May 2023 but God had another destination for him.

«With Benno – concludes Father Jeremias – we have lost a special friend and a first-rate Comboni missionary. He loved his vocation and was passionate about the mission. I truly believe that Benno fulfilled in his life – and in a special way – the words of Saint Augustine: “You made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you”».

(Father Franco Moretti, mccj)