Maria Helena Aguiar, known as Sister Aguiar (Irmã Aguiar), the oldest living nun in Portugal, celebrated her 111th birthday in Porto on November 2.
Sister Aguiar was born in São Tomé and Príncipe (a colony of the Portugal until 1975), on 2 November 1913. Her childhood was spent between Braga, where her paternal grandmother and an aunt lived, and Lisbon, where she pursued her artistic training. She completed her Higher Education Piano Course at the Lisbon Conservatory, achieving a perfect grade of 20 at just 17 years old.
She began teaching at the age of 18 and continued for most of her life. Even at 100, she had 17 students and taught with the same patience as ever. She started offering piano lessons at 18 but only entered religious life at 27, when she went to teach at a school in Viseu. She professed her vows at the Congregation of St. Dorothea.
Following the death of Anna La Morgia on 17 July 2024, Aguiar became the oldest living nun in Europe. She is currently the third-oldest known living nun in the world, after Inah Canabarro Lucas and Francis Piscatella.
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Sister Aguiar on her 111th birthday.
