Rev. Henry Behrens, S.J. was born December 16, 1815 and entered the Society of Jesus on September 27, 1832.
He was Provincial of the German Province from 1856 to 1859. He was Rector and Instructor of the Tertians at Fribourg from 1859 to 1863. In 1862, he became Prefect and the following year is again Rector and Instructor.
He was appointed Superior of the Buffalo Mission on December 22, 1872 and he filled this post until 1877 when he became Spiritual Father at Canisius. In 1874 he acquired "the villa" property at Main Street & Jefferson Avenue,- site of the present college property. During his term as President, the Fathers attached to the College cared for St. Vincent's Church. On February 2, 1886, he was again appointed Superior of the Buffalo Mission which post he then held for six years. In 1892 he again returns to Canisius as a Confessor.
He brought to America the Franciscan Sisters of Penance and Christian Charity from Holland.
Father Behrens died at Canisius University on October 17, 1895 at 80 years of age serving 64 years as a member of the Society of Jesus.
