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Friar Benjamín Soto Forero, O.F.M.

  • Born in Ubaté, Cundinamarca on June 23, 1954.
  • Entered the Novitiate on January 12, 1975, Bogotá, Colombia.
  • He made his temporary profession on December 29, 1975 in Bogota, Colombia.
  • Made his perpetual profession on March 10, 1979 in Bogota.
  • Received priestly ordination on December 15, 1979 in Ubaté, Colombia.

Services Performed

  • Provincial Coordinator of Vocational Ministry (1979 – 1980).
  • Vicar of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, Armenia (1980 – 1981).
  • Vice-teacher of Students Formation House of San Bernardino de Siena, Bogotá (1981 – 1982).
  • Vicar and Vice Rector of the San Pablo Formation House, Itagüí (1983 – 1984).
  • Secretary of the General Canonical Visitation (1984). Rector of the San Pablo Formation House, Itagüí (1984 – 1985). Guardian and Novice Master, Casa de San Luis de Tolosa, Ubaté (1988 – 1990).
  • Vicar and Vice-teacher of the Postulants of the House of Formation of San Pablo, Itagüí (1990 – 1993). Secretary General Universidad de San Buenaventura, Medellín (1990 – 1993).
  • Moderator for Continuing Education (1993-1996).
  • Secretary Universidad de San Buenaventura Colombia (1993 – 1996).
  • Guardian and Teacher, St. Leonard’s House of Formation for Ministries, Port Mauritius (1996 – 1999). Director of the Institute of Franciscanism, USB Bogotá (1997 – 1998).
  • Vice President of the Franciscan Family of Colombia (1998 – 2000).
  • Provincial Definitor (1999 – 2001). Guardian and Master of Students, Casa de Formación de San Bernardino de Siena, Bogotá (1999 – 2001).
  • President of the Franciscan Family of Colombia (2000 – 2001).
  • Vice Rector of the Student Friars of the International Franciscan Fraternity “Venerable Friar Gabriel Maria Alegra” of the Pontifical University “Antonianum”, Rome (2001 – 2003).
  • Personal Secretary to the Minister General of the Order of Friars Minor, General Curia, Rome (2003 – 2006).
  • Secretary of San Buenaventura University, Cali (2007 – 2008).
  • Secretary of the General Canonical Visitation (2008). Provincial Definitor (2008 – 2011).
  • Guardian of St. John the Baptist House, Provincial Curia, Bogota (2008- 2011).
  • Moderator for Continuing Education (2008 – 2011).
  • Guardian of the House of St. Bernardine of Siena and Master of Temporary Professed Religious, Bogota (2012-2014); Chancellor’s Representative to the USB Governing Council; Moderator’s Advisor for Initial Formation (2012 – 2014).
  • Vicar and Bursar of St. Barnabas Parish Fraternity, Bogota (2014-2016). Fraternity and Parish Administrator of La Porciúncula, Bogotá (2016 – 2017). Vicar of the Fraternity House of the Immaculate Conception of Manizales, and Director of the Evangelization of Education and Pastoral Franciscan College Augustine Gemelli, Manizales (2017 – 2019). Secretary of the Universidad de San Buenaventura, Cali (2019 – 2021). Collaborator Parish of La Porciúncula, Bogotá (2021). Moderator for Continuing Education (2021…). Secretary of San Buenaventura University, Cali (2022…).

Studies performed

  • Licentiate in Theology, Universidad de San Buenaventura, Bogotá.
  • Licentiate in Theology with Specialization in Franciscan Spirituality from the Pontifical University “Antonianum”, Rome.
  • Diploma in Canon Law from the Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, Vatican City. Rome.
  • Diploma in “Senior Management and Managerial Competencies”, Universidad de San Buenaventura, Medellín.

Courses and seminars

  • Christian Iconography, Theology and Spirituality, Center for Ecumenical Russian Studies, Rome.
  • Christian-Byzantine Iconography: Art and Theology, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá.
  • Program for the Improvement of University Administration and Teaching in Antioquia. PROMADUA, ASIESDA, Medellín.
  • XVIII Course for Formators of Major Seminaries and Centers of Priestly Formation of Latin America and the Caribbean, CELAM, Guatemala.
  • Consecrated Life Facing the Challenges of the Third Millennium, Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, Vatican City.

Publications

  • “Un joven con ochocientos años: Francisco de Asís”, Revista Misiones, Bogotá (1982).
  • “El Carisma Franciscano”, collaboration in the publication of the book: “El padre Almansa, signo de santidad en la Historia de Colombia”, Bogotá, (1995).
  • “Crucifix of San Damiano: the Icon of the Encounter”, script and theological-spiritual support, Video of the Ongoing Formation of the Province of the Holy Faith in Colombia, Bogota (1995).
  • “Francis at the foot of the Cross, an apprentice of the Crucified for Love”, Provincial Bulletin 362, Bogota (1996).
  • “El Descenso de Jesucristo al Hades”, Boletín provincia 365, Bogotá (1997).
  • “Un Camino de Respuestas a la manera del hermano Francisco de Asís” script for provincial video, Bogotá (2007).
  • “Hacia un Pedagogía Franciscana”, El ágora USB, Revista de Ciencias Humanas y Sociales, July-December, Medellín (2008).
  • “Steps on the Way of Response to Francis of Assisi”, Provincial Bulletin 421, Bogota (2009).
  • “The Crucifix of San Damiano: Encounter, contemplation and prayer”, Editorial Buenaventura, Cali (2010).
  • “De Dios se pueden hacer imágenes?”, Boletín provincial 428, Bogotá (2010).
  • “Authority as service”, Conference, Encounter of Guardians of the Province, Bogotá, D.C. (2021).

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