Father Cajetan Bendernagel, a Passionist priest, died after a brief illness at Saint Francis Hospital, Hartford, CT, on September 12, 2010  He was 85 years of age. He was the son of the late Charles Bendernagel and the late Anna Kleinschmidt Bendernagel. He is survived by a brother, Gerard Bendernagel, of East Moriches, NY, and three sisters, Lizette Mazza, of Lexington, MA, Alice Gormley, of Jamaica, NY, and Edna Turner, of Port Washington, NY. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Father Bendernagel attended Saint Augustine High School in Brooklyn, New York and Holy Cross Prep Seminary in Dunkirk, New York. He entered the Passionist novitiate in 1945 and professed vows in 1946 at Saint Paul of the Cross Monastery, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After completing his studies in philosophy and theology at various Passionist monasteries, Father Bendernagel received an MA in theology in 1952. Bishop James McNulty ordained him to the priesthood on 28 February 1952 at Saint Michael Monastery, Union City, New Jersey.

After a year of study in preaching at Our Mother of Sorrows Monastery, West Springfield, Massachusetts, Father Bendernagel was assigned to Saint Gabriel Monastery in Brighton, Massachusetts in 1958. He was vocation director and director of the Confraternity of the Passion from 1958-1970. During these years he was involved with the Crusaders of Fatima and assisted them in creating the shrine to Our Lady of Fatima on the property of Saint Gabriel church in Brighton. A compassionate and kind Religious, people sought him out as a confessor and spiritual guide. He was assistant retreat director at Saint Gabriel Retreat Center, Brighton, Massachusetts from 1962-1974 and then retreat director from 1974-1977.

Father Bendernagel was assigned to Our Lady of Florida Spiritual Center, North Palm Beach, Florida in 1978 and ministered for ten years as a beloved parochial vicar at Saint Paul of the Cross parish. He also was a parochial vicar at Saint Joseph Monastery Parish, Baltimore, Maryland from 1988-1991. During his years in Baltimore he served as spiritual director for Catholics who were widowed or divorced. Father Bendernagel was assigned to Holy Family Monastery, West Hartford, Connecticut in 1992. He worked as a volunteer chaplain at Hartford Hospital in Hartford and resided at the monastery until his death.

The Funeral Mass for Fr. Cajetan Bendernagel will be celebrated in the Monastery Choir in Jamaica, NY on Thursday, September 16 at 11 AM. His body will be received on Wednesday afternoon at 3 PM. There will be a viewing from 3 PM to 9 PM, with Evening Prayer at 5:15, Rosary at 7 PM and the Wake (Vigil) Service at 7:30 PM.