Fr. Benedict La Volpe, OFM Conv.

Fr. Benedict Maria La Volpe, OFM Conv., born in 1971 in Wollongong, Australia to a first generation Italian family, entered the Conventual Franciscan Order in Australia as a Postulant in April 1995 after having completed his B.A. in Italian language & literature. He made his novitiate at Arroyo Grande CA, and professed Vows in 1997. After completing his B.Theol. at Catholic Theological College in Melbourne, he was sent to the Order’s International College, the Seraphicum in Rome where he completed the STB, and he then completed his Licentiate in Franciscan Spirituality, writing his Thesis on The Contemplative Dimension of the Conventual Franciscan Order whilst also studying Theology of Consecrated Life at the Claretianum in Rome. He made his Solemn Profession of Vows in 2002.

On July 16 2005 he was ordained to the priesthood. Fr. Benedict was assistant Priest at Our Lady of the Rosary Parish Kellyville in northwest Sydney from his Ordination until November 2009, and then Pastor and Guardian at St. Joseph’s Springvale in Melbourne until August 2018. Fr. Benedict has given Parish Missions, animated Retreats, given Conferences, served four years on the Archbishop’s Senate of Priests in the Archdiocese of Melbourne and was one of the Spiritual Directors for the seminarians at Corpus Christi Regional Seminary, Melbourne.

In 2018 he was elected as Provincial Definitor at the Provincial Chapter of the St. Bonaventure Province in Chicago, also nominated Rector of the National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe and elected Guardian of the Our Lady of Fatima Friary at Marytown, where he began his ministry in September 2018. He is the Province’s Delegate to the Militia Immaculatae (MI). He also is a Spiritual Director to several seminarians and priests.