Father Richard P. Albertine, MM

Born: August 20, 1939
Ordained: June 11, 1966
Died: September 29, 2025

Father Richard P. Albertine died on September 29, 2025 in the Skilled Nursing Unit at Maryknoll, New York. He was 86 years old and a Maryknoll priest for 59 years.

Richard Paul Albertine was born in Hazleton, Pennsylvania on August 20, 1939, son of Rudolph L. Albertine and Margaret Ann Malik. He was the eldest of four boys, the sons of a coal miner. He attended Beaver Meadows Elementary School in the tiny town of Beaver Meadows, Pennsylvania. He entered the tenth grade at the Maryknoll Junior Seminary (Venard), Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania on September 8, 1954. He received his B.A. in Philosophy from Maryknoll College, Glen Ellyn, Illinois in 1961, and his Bachelor of Divinity and Master of Theology degrees from Maryknoll Seminary, Maryknoll, New York in 1965 and 1966, respectively. He was ordained a priest at Maryknoll Seminary, New York on June 11, 1966.

After ordination Father Albertine departed for his mission assignment in the Maryknoll Mission Unit in Venezuela. The first four years in Venezuela represented the beginning of that new Mission Unit, a time of founding and establishing the new mission apostolate among the people. The highlight of those years for Father Albertine was the establishment of Maryknoll’s work in a new area of the country called Valencia, about 100 miles west of Caracas. This was to become a very successful parish in the new industrial satellite city, La Isabelica.

In 1970 Father Albertine was assigned to the U.S. Region and to the Maryknoll Education Department for advanced studies. He received a Doctorate in Systematic Theology in Toronto, Canada in 1972. For the next five years he commuted between Maryknoll, New York and Venezuela. This was something new: his teaching at the Seminary was integrated into an active mission career. While at the Maryknoll School of Theology, he taught an inspiring course on “The Holy Spirit and Mission.” Father Albertine is to be highly praised for his decision to combine his academic skills with his pastoral challenges. In 1976, the original work in La Isabelica was transferred to the diocese, a flourishing parish and apostolate.

In July 1977 Father Albertine was appointed Regional Superior for the Maryknoll Mission Region in Venezuela/Colombia, and was reappointed in 1980. For three years he worked in the new apostolates in the squatter areas of Barquisimeto and Barinas. A highlight of those years was his work with the women’s movement called Circulo Femenino, a movement dedicated to working with women who were very poor.

Besides being a strong pastoral leader, Father Albertine also initiated the recruitment of lay missioner families with young children from around the world for the Venezuela Region. Inspired by Vatican II and Liberation Theology, he and all Maryknoll pastoral teams lived and ministered in the urban slums of Venezuela.

In 1984 Father Albertine was reassigned to the U.S. and to the Formation/Education Department (FED). He was appointed Director of the Planning/Coordinating Team to reorganize the FED in September 1987. In July 1990, while still a member of the U.S. Region, Father Albertine was assigned to help the fledgling National Missionary Seminary of St. Paul in Gwagwalada, Abuja, Nigeria. He was Professor of Sacramental Theology and Missiology at the Nigerian Foreign Mission Seminary until September 1992, when he was reassigned to Venezuela. From 1994 to September 1998, he served in the Development Department in the U.S. Region.

In October 1998 Father Albertine was assigned to the Africa Region and worked in Windhoek, Namibia. He often served as a theological consultant to the Archbishop of Windhoek, Liborius Nashenda. He taught at the St. Charles Lwanga Major Seminary and was a favorite professor among the students. In addition, he served as chaplain to the students at the University of Namibia. In his many interactions with the students, individually and during days of recollection and retreats, he often emphasized a theology of mission and the importance of the social dimensions of the Gospel. His presence and ministry served as a powerful tool in forming many of the future leaders of Namibia. In the summer of 2003 Father Albertine fulfilled a long-held dream of visiting Cuba as a guest of the Quebec Fathers, P.M.E.

In September 2004 Father Albertine was assigned to the Senior Missioner Community with continued residence in Namibia. He was very active in his retirement. In addition to work at the Major Seminary and the University, he was a founding member and active participant in a youth (18-24) retreat movement called Namibian Teens Encounter Christ (NATEC). This served to deepen the participants’ relationship with God and integrate a living faith into all aspects of their lives. Engaging his students and retreat participants, he founded a first-of-its-kind program in Namibia to support former prisoners and their re-integration into society.

After serving for 18 years in Namibia, Father Albertine returned to the United States in June 2016 and took up residence at the Society Center in Maryknoll, New York. He celebrated Masses at Assumption Church in Peekskill, St. Francis of Assisi in Mt. Kisco, and St. Ann’s Parish in Ossining where he also provided counseling. Until the onset of the pandemic, he led a biblical ministry with inmates at Sing Sing Prison in Ossining. Father Albertine maintained a close bond with his Class of 1966, joining with his classmates each year in celebrating the anniversary of their ordination at Maryknoll, New York.

Father Albertine is survived by his brothers and their families: Dr. John (Mona) Albertine of Fredericksburg, VA and daughters Carey, Gillian (Conrad) Lewane, and Elizabeth (Juan Kassar) Albertine; James (Anne Marie) Albertine of Bethesda, MD and son James (Marilyn), and daughter Katherine (Dr. Michael) Heller; Dr. Joseph Albertine of Drums, PA and sons Joseph (Teresa) and Ted (Crystal); and many great-nieces and great-nephews.

Wake services were held on October 6, 2025 in the Holy Spirit Chapel and the Queen of Apostles Chapel at the Maryknoll Society Center. Mass of Christian Burial followed at 11:00 a.m. and was concelebrated in the Queen of Apostles Chapel. Father David Pfeiffer was the Celebrant and homilist. Father John McAuley read the biography and Father Joseph Healey read the Oath. Burial followed in the Maryknoll Society Cemetery.