SAN JOSE—The Most Reverend Oscar Cantú has appointed Reverend Joseph Benedict as the vicar for clergy for the Diocese of San José. Father Benedict, who will remain pastor of Sacred Heart in Saratoga, will assume the additional responsibilities effective on July 1, 2022. Father Benedict succeeds Monsignor Wilfredo Manrique, who served as vicar for clergy since 2019.
“I am most grateful for Msgr. Willie’s loving and dedicated service to the clergy and the diocese, his support to me personally, in priestly fraternity, and in the pastoral and canonical wisdom that he has brought to the table of decision-making. His work as vicar for clergy has been painstaking, thoughtful, and wise, indeed a sign of fraternal and pastoral love,” Bishop Cantú shared.
Bishop Cantú added, “I am grateful to Father Joseph for his willingness to assume this new responsibility in service to me and the priests and deacons of our diocese. I ask for your prayers as we work together in service of the local Church.”
As vicar for clergy, Father Benedict will assist Bishop Cantú in supporting, strengthening, and sanctifying the priests and deacons of the diocese.
Pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Saratoga since July 2021, Father Benedict was previously pastor of St. Joseph Cathedral Parish for nine years. Originally a native of New Mexico, he was ordained for the Diocese of San Jose in 1997 after completing studies at St. Patrick’s Seminary and University in Menlo Park. After serving in several parishes within the Diocese, he completed doctoral studies in moral theology in 2009 at Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley. He has served as the director of the Ongoing Clergy Formation program and the director of the Permanent Diaconate Program. In addition to serving as pastor of Sacred Heart Parish, he is an adjunct lecturer of moral theology in the Graduate Program of Pastoral Ministries at Santa Clara University.