Born in Bogotá, Colombia, in 1967, Father Antonio María Benítez Arévalo grew up in a Christian family, following the example of his parents, Carlos Alberto and Maria Teresa, “people of faith, generous and close to others in need.”
By Jaime C. Patias *
Antonio Benítez entered the propaedeutic seminary of the Consolata missionaries in the city of Cartagena in 1989. He subsequently studied philosophy and theology in Bogotá, completing his studies with a specialization in Spain. His priestly ordination was celebrated in Bogotá on 11 September 1999. In mission, Father Benítez spent time in England to study English, then worked in Ethiopia for 12 years (in two periods), and also served in Colombia, Ecuador, Kenya, Spain, and Italy. Since 3 February of this year, the missionary has been based in Elche, Spain.
When this video was recorded, in September 2025 during the permanent formation course (G25) in Rome, Father Antonio Benítez was working at the birthplace of Saint Giuseppe Allamano in Castelnuovo Don Bosco, Italy. Together with his colleague Father Pietro Trabucco, in addition to welcoming visitors to the Founder’s home, they were engaged in pastoral work in three parishes and in missionary animation in the Diocese of Asti.
The Birthplace of the Holy Founder
“The work at the birthplace of Saint Giuseppe Allamano consists in bearing witness to how this man, starting from the local Church, promoted the missionary dimension. For this reason, the house welcomes various groups – not only those connected to the Consolata missionaries and missionary sisters, but also Salesian priests and other ecclesial communities who wish to learn about the charism left by Saint Giuseppe Allamano,” explains Father Benítez.
Following the canonization (20 October 2024), the house underwent a reorganization and renewal “that allow visitors, especially children and young people, to enter and discover the charism of this great man, and above all to discern their own personal vocation to become missionaries.”
All of this shows “how Allamano has influenced the lives of so many people and continues to do so. This is very important because, with the canonization, Saint Giuseppe Allamano has been recognized as a heritage belonging not only to the Consolata missionaries and missionary sisters, but to the whole Church.”
“We joyfully welcome young people who are curious to discover this figure and the new modern audio-visual presentation, introduced by Allamano’s own voice, which calls us to solidarity – a value that, sadly, is under threat in the current context of wars and conflicts. Yet, through the commitment of religious congregations and pastoral groups, it has been possible to revitalize this commitment to building a new humanity that is more united in solidarity and more humane,” the missionary emphasizes.
“I thank the Lord, because this has been a moment of personal enrichment, especially after walking through the different rooms of the house, which highlight various aspects of Saint Joseph Allamano and conclude before a digital window open to the entire world. This challenges us as Christians and as human beings to recognize that the other is not a problem for me – that the other is different but enriches me – and in doing so it points toward universal unity, toward the universal fraternity also expressed in the beautiful prayer of the Our Father.”
The Priestly Jubilee
Reflecting on the G25 course for missionaries celebrating the Jubilee of 25 years of priestly ordination or religious life for brothers, Father Antonio Benítez says it was “a moment of grace – for me in particular, a moment of gratitude for everything I have lived, for everything the Lord has allowed me to learn and discover over these years. I had the opportunity to reconnect with colleagues who years ago had set out on this journey together with me, and with whom we have now mutually enriched one another through this course,” he observes.
“It was also a pilgrimage in which hope drives us forward, setting us on this path to go out and encounter the other.” The renewal course “was also a journey of growing awareness of our fragilities and of our growth in faith. Years ago I began this journey and did not think I would do so many things — and I was tempted to think that many things depended on me. At this point, the Jubilee allows us to recognize that we can do many things, but all of them must be moved by the power of God.”
This attitude “makes us more humble, helps us recognize that He is truly the protagonist of the mission. For this reason, I believe that this Jubilee moment has allowed us to give thanks to God and to grow in our journey of faith,” concludes Father Antonio Benítez.
Father Jaime C. Patias, IMC, Office for Communication.
