SUBIACO, Ark. — Father Aaron Pirrera, a monk of Subiaco Abbey, died peacefully Sept. 18 at Sparks Regional Medical Center, Fort Smith, Ark. He was 72 years old and had been a professed monk for 36 years and a priest for 31 years.
Born Charles Pirrera in Chicago on Aug. 7, 1944 he was one of two children of Carl and Mary Midiri Pirrera. The family resided in Springfield, where Charles attended Ss. Peter and Paul School and went on to attend and graduate from Griffin High School in 1962.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in English and French from St. Ambrose College in Davenport, Iowa. He then joined the Peace Corps and served in Ethiopia for two years. He worked as a teacher and librarian for the next 10 years. During that time he received master’s degree in library science from the University of Iowa.
He entered Subiaco Abbey in 1978 and made his first profession of vows on Feb. 10, 1980, and received the name Aaron. He worked as a teacher and librarian at Subiaco Academy for a year, and in May 1981 was assigned to Beda College in Rome to begin his studies for the priesthood.
He professed final vows as a monk on Sept. 14, 1983 and was ordained to the priesthood at Subiaco Abbey by Bishop Andrew McDonald on Aug. 10, 1985. Following his ordination, he was appointed director of vocations, a ministry he served until 1997. During that time, he also served in a number of other capacities as well.
Father Aaron returned to work at Subiaco Academy, where he taught, served as the chair of the English Department and later as headmaster. He also earned a certification in ESL from the University of California at San Diego and a master’s from Harding University in Searcy, Ark.
He was appointed pastor of St. Benedict Parish in Subiaco in 2005. In the summer of 2011 he was named pastor of St. Mary Parish in Altus, Ark., in addition to St. Benedict. He cared for St. Mary for about a year.
Earlier this year, Father Aaron began to experience worsening problems with diabetes and became a part-time resident in the Abbey Health Center, while remaining pastor of St. Benedict. He was relieved of his pastoral responsibilities and became a permanent resident in the health center in late May.
In his ministries, Father Aaron was vivacious, generous and compassionate and was known for his great sense of humor. He had a great love for the Catholic Church and the people of God.
Father Aaron was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Rosemary. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Sept. 21 in the Abbey Church.