Henry E Aguilar, OFM

1897 – 1972

Fr. Henry (Enrique) Aguilar, OFM, was born on April 14, 1897. A member of the Province of Santa Fe, Columbia, he was received into the Order in 1913 and professed temporary vows one year later. Fr. Henry was ordained in 1921.

He studied at St. Bonaventure College, Allegany, N.Y., receiving his master’s degree in 1932. Fr. Henry returned to Bogotá to teach language and history at the college seminary there. He returned to St. Bonaventure in 1950 as a member of the modern languages department and remained there until he retired.

Fr. Henry was the author of many volumes of poetry written in his native Spanish. He was a quiet-spoken friar, unassuming, and endowed with a highly developed artistic sensitivity — the Poet Laureate of his country. Fr. Henry spent 22 years at St. Bonaventure University, where he endeared himself to all the friars.

He died on Oct. 18, 1972. Fr. Henry was 75 years old, a professed friar for 58 years, and a priest for 51 years.