Fr. Benedict Maria, O.S.B.The solemn occasion of a priestly ordination is something that Portsmouth Abbey has not witnessed for quite a few years. Happily, the house now has a new young priest as of Friday, May 2. The Reverend Benedict Maria, O.S.B., entered the “Sacred Order of Priesthood for service in the local Church of Providence, and the Order of St. Benedict,” as declared by the document presented to him, signed and sealed by the Most Reverend Elias R. Lorenzo, O.S.B., the principal celebrant at the celebration of the Sacred Liturgy. The Abbey Church was filled to capacity for the 8:30 a.m. Mass, attended by the entire student body and faculty of Portsmouth Abbey School, members of the Board of Directors, Oblates, as well as many staff, neighbors, friends and fellow seminarians who traveled to Aquidneck Island to support, pay tribute to, and receive a blessing from Father Benedict. The last full day spent as a brother before his ordination fell appropriately on National Religious Brothers’ Day, May 1.

Traveling the farthest were seven family members from India, including the new priest’s parents and sister. They came together here with over 150 friends from the Philadelphia area where Father worked for several years in the tech industry before being urged to seek out Portsmouth Abbey by his spiritual director, Fr. Anthony Berret, S.J. The “Philly Friends” arrived with their families, and the sounds of gleeful children taking advantage of the safe, spacious campus and playing outside in the agreeable weather, added to the joyous festivities throughout the weekend. Besides Bishop Lorenzo, the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Newark, New Jersey, who had last visited Portsmouth in early 2019, we were joined by Bishop Silvio José Báez Ortega, O.C.D. and Bishop-elect Gregg M. Caggianelli, who participated in the Mass. Both serve at the St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach, Florida, where Father Benedict did his seminary studies. Bishop Silvio is Auxiliary Bishop of Managua, Nicaragua and Bishop-elect Gregg was recently named the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA.
Prayers at the ordinationRepresenting Saint Louis Abbey in Missouri, where Father Benedict spent a year in early monastic formation, was Abbot Gregory Mohrman who, along with Abbot Michael Brunner, had the honors of vesting the new priest. He was vested in a white chasuble and stole which were designed and made by Mary Jean McDonough, longtime friend of the Portsmouth monks. That vestment is a favorite of Abbot Matthew Stark, first abbot of Portsmouth, and the significance of the new priest sharing the same chasuble worn by the older monk was not lost on Father Benedict. It was brought to the sanctuary by his parents, Mr. Anthony Jabamalai Maria and Mrs. Geetha Maria, who live in Port Blair in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Fr. Benedict with the precious chalice at his ordination MassDeacon of the Word for the Mass was the Rev. Mr. Paul Saint Laurent of St. Anthony’s Church in Portsmouth; Deacon of the Eucharist was the Rev. Mr. Peter Jutras, soon to be ordained a priest for the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee. Deacons seated in choir represented the Dioceses of Palm Beach, Miami, Orlando, St. Augustine, Savannah and Venice. Other visiting priests who concelebrated the Mass were Fr. Henry Bodah, Pastor Emeritus at St. Francis of Assisi in Wakefield; Fr. Phillip Mills, Parochial Vicar at the Cathedral of St. James in Orlando; Fr. Thomas Pulickal of the St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Chicago; Fr. Hal N. Obayashi, Parochial Vicar at St. Andrew Parish in Billerica MA; Fr. Lawrence Joseph, C.F.R., Franciscan Friar of the Renewal in the Bronx ; and Fr. Jairon Gabriel Olmos Rivera, ordained a year ago on May 13 and now Parochial Vicar of St. Michael the Archangel Church in Providence. Music throughout the Mass was led by the student Schola of Portsmouth Abbey School, under the direction of Dr. Blake Billings ’77, and heartily joined by the congregation which included the student body of the School.
Abbot Matthew Stark congratulates Fr. Benedict (Conoray Lawantara ’25 assisting)At all of the various receptions and gatherings, shared meals in the dining hall or the Board dinner in the Winter Garden, the topic of conversation was the beauty of the ordination liturgy, which lasted about ninety minutes. All available beds in the monastery, as well as other guest rooms on campus and even throughout the neighborhood, were filled – a special thanks to St. Philomena School, across the lane from us, and to Deacon Timothy Flanigan ’75 for their assistance with hospitality! The large ensemble joined in a number of the liturgies, as well, including the Divine Office and the morning conventual Masses. The festivities spilled into the following day, as we were able to join in celebrating with Fr. Benedict at his First Mass, scheduled precisely 24 hours later, on Saturday, May 3, at 8:30 a.m. Bishop Silvio offered a heartfelt and personal homily, speaking both of the ministry of the priesthood and addressing Fr. Benedict personally. Many from the group of family and friends were able to stay over to participate in this special Mass. Enriching this occasion was the presence of two girls who received communion from Father Benedict. The girls, Catharine Antony and Bernadette Simenthy, are the daughters of close friends, and Bernadette is Fr. Benedict’s godchild. The two received the sacrament of First Holy Communion in their home parishes just the previous weekend. To round out the weekend, Fr. Benedict celebrated the two Abbey Masses for the Third Sunday of Easter: the regular 9:30 a.m. Conventual Mass and a 7:00 p.m. School Mass, which provided the occasion of yet another first, as he was able to be the principal celebrant at his first Mass for the students. The homilist was Abbot Michael Brunner, who offered his apologies that the congregation could not hear Fr. Benedict preach a homily that day, although he promised many future occasions. The uplifting spirit experienced at the ordination Mass remained fully present for this Mass as well, as the students remained attentive and continued to join in the singing during the service.
Bishop Silvio José Báez Ortega, O.C.D., gives homily at Fr. Benedict’s first MassFr. Benedict departed Boston’s Logan Airport with his family on Monday afternoon May 5, heading to Florida where he had final details to take care of at the seminary. He is due back at Portsmouth on May 17. As for his future assignments, many wondered about his future role in the School. Concerning what lies ahead, he notes, “Yes, I may be teaching Christian Doctrine and probably a course on arts in future, if it works out. Father Abbot and I are discussing this, but this decision is finally upon the abbot.” And while now a priest, he remains ever the obedient monk, adding, “I may be doing something else, if he wishes so!”

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