Vicar Apostolic of Galápagos
Áureo Patricio Bonilla Bonilla is Vicar Apostolic of Galápagos, Ecuador. Áureo Patricio Bonilla Bonilla, O.F.M., was born on 15 May 1968 in Riobamba, Ecuador. After primary and secondary studies, he obtained the baccalaureate at the Carlos Cisneros Technical Institute of Riobamba. At the age of 18 he entered the Order of Friars Minor in Quito. He made the novitiate in Riobamba and made temporary profession on 27 August 1988. He was then sent to complete theological studies at the Franciscan Studies Center of Jerusalem, where he made solemn profession on 10 October 1993. He was ordained a priest on 20 June 1996. After priestly ordination he held the following offices: 1996-1997, master of postulants in Otavalo, Ecuador; 1997-2000, master of postulants in Azogues, Ecuador; 2000-2004, doctoral studies in canon law in Rome at the Antonianum; 2004-2007, vice-master of temporary professed members in Quito; 2004-2009, administrative director of the Cardenal Echeverría Faculty of Philosophy and Theology in Quito; 2005-2007, president of the institutes and centers of Franciscan theological studies of Latin America; 2006-2009, provincial definitor; 2006-2009, secretary for formation at the provincial level; 2007-2009, secretary for formation in the Bolivarian Franciscan Conference; 2006-2007, defender of the bond in the National Court of Appeal of the C.E.E.; and from 2009, provincial vicar; jurist of the Franciscan Province and president of the legal commission of the Franciscan Order; animator of permanent formation; member of the governing council for the goods of the Franciscan Province; dean of the Faculty of Philosophy and Theology and professor of canon law; judge in the National Court of Appeal and consultant for consecrated life in the Episcopal Commission for Ministries and Consecrated Life of the C.E.E.; and member of the tribunal of the Archdiocese of Quito.