The Rev. Richard J. Aguilar

Denomination: The Episcopal Church (TEC)
Organization: St. Margaret's and San Francisco de Asis Episcopal Church, Miami Lakes, FL

The Rev. Richard J. Aguilar is priest of St. Margaret's and San Francisco de Asis Episcopal Church in Miami Lakes, FL.

Richard was born in San Antonio, Texas on November 2, 1956. He was reared in the west side barrio of this city. Richard is one of eight children of Fela and Raphael Aguilar. Richard's grandparents immigrated in the early 1900's from the states of San Luis Potosi and Coahuila in the Republic of Mexico. Richard's father and three uncles were veterans who experienced combat action in World War II.

Richard attended Father Antonio Margil Elementary and Fidel Tafolla Junior High School. Richard came to the Episcopal Church when he was in 9th grade and a friend, Richard Ramos invited him to a youth gathering. Since that time over forty family members have been baptized, confirmed, and married in the Episcopal church. A nephew, James Murguia is rector of Saint David's Episcopal Church and School in San Antonio.

In 1975 Richard graduated from TMI, the Episcopal School of Texas. At TMI he was Student Council President, Battalion Staff Officer in the Corp of Cadets, National Honor Society and varsity football player. He received a B. A. in 1979 from the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. Richard was a double-major in Economics and Spanish Literature and member the Order of Gownsmen, the campus scholastic honor society. After working at Frost National Bank in San Antonio for four years he discerned a call to the ordained ministry. In 1986 Richard graduated from the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, Texas. Richard was ordained to the diaconate in June 1986 and to the priesthood in January 1987. He has served Episcopal parishes in Eagle Pass, Brownsville, San Antonio, and Seguin in the Diocese of West Texas. Also, Richard was Latino Missioner for the Diocese of Southern Ohio and lived in Columbus, Ohio. He has been parish priest of Saint Margaret's of Scotland and San Francisco de Asis Episcopal Church in Miami Lakes, Florida since June 2009.

Richard has served the Diocese of West Texas on several commissions including Long Range Planning on Spirituality, Executive Board, Congregational Development, Commission on Ministry, Hispanic Commission, Cross Cultural Division, Central American Refugee Resettlement Ministry, and World Mission. He has served on the Boards TMI, the Episcopal School of Texas; Morningside Ministries; the Episcopal Seminary in Austin; and the Good Samaritan Community Services of the Rio Grande Valley. In the Diocese of Southern Ohio, Richard served on the Commission on National and World Mission and Hispanic Ministry. He has been a trainer in Sewanee's theological education program, Education for Ministry. In the Diocese of Southeast Florida, Richard is serving on the Nehemiah Steering Group, Hispanic Commission, and Task Force on Blessing of Civil Unions. In 1994, 1997, 2000, and 2003 Richard was elected deputy to the General Convention. Also, he has served the Episcopal Church-USA on the Executive Council's Commission on Racism; Joint Standing Committee on Nominations for Church Bodies, Joint Standing Committee to Elect the Presiding Bishop; Standing Commission on Stewardship and Development; and Standing Commission on National Concerns. Currently, Richard serves on the board of Forward Movement Publications and Council of Advice for the latino/Hispanic missioner of the Episcopal Church.

Richard was married to Janet Figueroa on December 22, 1984 at Santa Fe Episcopal Church in San Antonio. Janet was born and reared in Managua, Nicaragua. She has an uncle who is an Episcopal priest who after years of ministry in Central America serves a parish in the Diocese of Massachusetts. Janet's has talents in culinary skills of several international cuisines. Also, she is a quilter and cross-stitcher. Janet and Richard have one daughter named MICHELLE, who is 16 years old and a junior at Hialeah-Miami Lakes Senior High School. As a family, they like to spend time together in sports, traveling, and exploring. Their home is decorated with a collection of folk art from Texas, Mexico, and Central America. Richard's hobbies include reading, baseball, San Antonio Spurs basketball team, movies, music, walking, and trying to keep up with the energy of Janet and MICHELLE. Also, Richard is avid reader of Latino/Hispanic history and culture. Richard's personal mission statement is "life-long learning in Christ."