Father Benjamin was born in Padua, Italy on February 24, 1936. He later became a Salesian Brother, who taught in the United States for some time before deciding to return to Italy to continue his studies for the priesthood. He was ordained to the priesthood on March 23, 1964 and returned to the United States and served in New Jersey before relocating to Louisiana to serve in the Arch-Diocese of New Orleans.
He recently celebrated his 50th Anniversary to the Priesthood with a Mass at San Miguel Catholic Church, Saltillo, Mexico, attended by Bishop Villalobos, retired Bishop of Saltillo, as well as an over-flow crowd of parishioners.
His last assignment in the United States was founding pastor of Ascension of Our Lord in Laplace, La. on July 2, 1979.
Father Benny heard about the Mississippi Mission in Saltillo, Mexico and began taking groups to serve there, until he "RETIRED" at age 70 in 2006. He was not ready to take it easy and rock the days away, and since he always wanted to serve in the Mission fields, he decided to sign on as assistant at the Saltillo Mission. "I was not ready to retire from active ministry and liked Saltillo from my visits there and thought that would be the perfect spot for me to serve in my retirement years," stated Father Benny.
Father Benny was serving as Assistant to the Jackson, Mississippi priest, until the Bishop of the Jackson Diocese decided he was needed in the Mississippi Diocese and recalled him, leaving Father Benny to handle the enormous workload of the Mississippi, began in 1969, by the Saintly priest, Father Patrick Quinn, originally from Ireland, and serving in Mississippi when the Dioceses decided there was an important need for priests in Mexico.
Father Benny expanded the work of the Mission by taking on additional ranchos and barrios, and when asked by Bishop Raul Vera, Bishop of Saltillo, to take on more work in the ranchos that seldom have seen a priest or the sacraments, he said "SIGN ME UP." Father Benny expects there might be around 100 churches in ranchos and barrios and in the City of Saltillo in his parish when he is finished sorting them all out.
The Diocese of Saltillo stated that the work of foreign priests takes much commitment and the work they do is extremely important to Bishop Vera. For that reason he visits them, calls them frequently and asks them favors, because Bishop Vera trusts their pastoral service.
"There is a terrible need for the Mission here. Father Benny Piovan, pastor of the Mission is a good Missionary. I was sorry when the Bishops of Mississippi stopped sending priests to San Miguel. Fortunately Father Piovan chose to remain, and the Mission has a good team of priests and lay people working in that Parish. Father Benny has a good number of Ejidos (ranchos) as well as those in the City of Saltillo (barrios) and we need the help of the Mississippi Diocese," stated Bishop Vera.
This the first time in the history of the Mission that a priest from the Mississippi Dioceses has not served at the Mission.
Father Benny has two young Mexican priests assisting him in his task of visiting the many churches as well as a good number of catechists. Most of the ranchos are many miles away from Saltillo nestled in the mountains outside of the City of Saltillo.
Many of the ranchos are miles away from the City of Saltillo and the newly acquired ranchos have not seen a priest in over a year, and some, like La Popa have not had a Mass in 20 years.
The ranchos and barrios are among poorest in that region of Mexico.
"We have faith in our Lord that he has a plan for this Mission and I am confident that it is NOT to close the Mission, but to continue to serve these wonderful people of Saltillo and surrounding areas," Father Benny stated.
Good job, Padre Benny! God Bless you!
Father Benny can be reached at bennyinmex@yahoo.com or on
Facebook at Saltillo Mission San Miguel
