Fr. Terence “Terry” Henry, TOR, a member of the Province of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, was called home to the Lord on Saturday, March 14, 2026, at the age of 77, in his 59th year of religious life and 50th year of priestly ministry. Fr. Terry was born on April 11, 1948, in Philadelphia, PA. After graduating from high school, he attended Saint Francis College, earning a bachelor’s degree in history. He entered the novitiate in 1967, professed Simple Vows in 1968, and Solemn Vows in 1972. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 15, 1976. Fr. Terry earned two master’s degrees, including a Master of Divinity from Saint Francis Seminary in Loretto and a Master of Science in History from Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Indiana.
After his ordination, Fr. Terry began his priestly ministry at Bishop Egan High School in Fairless Hills, PA, where he taught history for sixteen years. He also spent one year as the school’s principal and was the first president after its merger with Bishop Conwell High School in 1993. Following his time at Conwell-Egan Catholic High School, he served as Postulant Director at Saint Bonaventure Friary and taught at Saint Francis University in Loretto, PA. After four years of directing postulants, Fr. Terry served as President of Franciscan University of Steubenville from 2000 to 2013. During his tenure as president, he also served on the Provincial Council as Vicar Provincial, was a member of the Board of Trustees at Saint Francis University, and was a delegate at the 2011 Provincial Chapter. From 2012 to 2015, he served as local minister of Holy Spirit Friary in Steubenville, OH, followed by two years as local minister of Queen of Peace Friary in Pittsburgh. Always passionate about education, Fr. Terry then returned to Loretto, where he was a member of the History Department at Saint Francis University before his well-earned retirement in 2018.
Fr. Terry’s life reflected deep and unwavering faith, demonstrated through his compassion as a priest and his dedication to education. His warm personality shone through not only in his work as an educator but also as a priest, friend, and mentor. Fr. Terry will be remembered fondly not only for his professional achievements but especially for his great love of nature, as he enjoyed hiking, camping, outdoor activities, and orienteering. He also connected this passion to his memorable homilies, in which he challenged the faithful to embrace God’s love as the guiding compass in their spiritual journey. One of his favorite authors was G. K. Chesterton, and he often included quotes from him in his homilies and letters. Because of this, we believe he would approve of the following inclusion:
“Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of a readiness to die. ‘He that will lose his life, the same shall save it,’ is not a piece of mysticism for saints and heroes. It is a piece of everyday advice for sailors or mountaineers.” (G. K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy, Colorado Springs: WaterBrook, 2001 [1908], pp. 136–37, ch. 6).
Fr. Terry was also a passionate sports fan, especially of any Philadelphia team, and those close to him note that he was outspoken and lively in his political views. Many will remember his signature greeting, “Hey, big guy,” always delivered with a smile. He will be deeply missed.
Fr. Terry was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Sara “Sally” (Fitzpatrick) Henry. He is survived by his brother, Thomas “Tuk” (wife Terri) Henry; sisters, Kathy (husband Bud) Dawson and Margie (husband John) Jenkins; friends; and his Franciscan community. Fr. Terry was also a beloved uncle and great-uncle to his nieces and nephews.
Family and friends were invited to a viewing on Thursday, March 19, 2026, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Saint Francis Friary at Mount Assisi in Loretto, PA. A Vigil Prayer Service was held at 7 p.m. The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 20, 2026, at Saint Francis Friary, with the Very Reverend Joseph Lehman, TOR, as principal celebrant. Following the Mass, interment took place at the Franciscan Friars’ Cemetery on the Saint Francis University campus in Loretto.