Notre Dame, Ind. – Rev. Genaro Polendo Aguilar, C.S.C., 74, died on March 17, 2026, at St. Joseph Medical Center after a short illness.
Fr. Aguilar was born in San Antonio, Texas, on January 19, 1952, to Adolpho and Juanita (Polendo) Aguilar and is the youngest of five boys. He graduated from John F. Kennedy High School in HeSan Antonio, Texas, in 1970 and then attended St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas, earning a bachelor’s degree in Spanish in 1975. During his final semester, he entered the seminary for the Archdiocese of San Antonio and began his theology studies at Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio before asking and being granted permission to study at the University of Notre Dame. He earned his master’s in theology from Notre Dame in 1977. After graduating from Notre Dame, he resigned from the Archdiocese of San Antonio and joined the Congregation of Holy Cross, Eastern Province, was admitted to the Novitiate in Bennington, Vt., and professed First Vows on August 11, 1979. He professed Final Vows on September 12, 1982, and was ordained a Holy Cross priest on June 18, 1983.
After ordination, Fr. Aguilar taught at Holy Cross High School in Waterbury, Conn., and assisted at St. Mary Parish in Bridgeport, Conn., until 1985. From 1985-1987, he taught at Immaculate High School in Danbury before enrolling at Boston College to earn his Master of Social Work in 1989. For the next six years, he worked primarily in a school-based setting at Brighton Allston Mental Health Clinic in Brighton, Mass. From 1995-1997, he worked in the guidance program at Coyle & Cassidy High School in Taunton, Mass. From 1997-2009, he served as the alumni & athletics chaplain for Stonehill College in Easton, Mass., before serving as the alumni & athletics chaplain for King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, Pa., from 2009-2018. For the next two years, he served as chaplain for Our Lady of Holy Cross College in New Orleans, La., before serving as chaplain for Sisters of the Holy Cross in Ventura, Calif., from 2020-2021. From 2021-2025, he resided at Our Lady of Fatima House in Notre Dame, Ind., and served as chaplain for Holy Cross Village from 2021-2023. Beginning in 2025, he resided at Christopher Lodge in Cocoa Beach, Fla., before moving to Holy Cross House in Notre Dame, Ind., shortly before his death.
Fr. Aguilar was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Adolph Jr. and Pedro. He is survived by his brothers Dario and Manuel. He is also survived by beloved nephews and grand-nieces.
Visitation will be held on Monday, March 23, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at the Chapel of Mary located on the Stonehill College campus in North Easton, Mass., with a Funeral Mass at 10:00 a.m. You may also join us via livestream at https://youtube.com/live/3671dV9b-Q4?feature=share.
Burial will be in the Holy Cross Community Cemetery in Easton, Mass. Kane Funeral Home, Easton, is in charge of the arrangements.
Memorial contributions in support of the mission and ministries of the Congregation of Holy Cross can be made to: United States Province of Priests and Brothers, Office of Advancement, 500 Washington Street, North Easton, MA 02356-1299 or online at https://donate.holycrossusa.org.
