Thomas Albert

1879-1924

Thomas Albert was born on 17 June 1879 in Saint-Hilaire-de-Madawaska. He completed classical studies at the College of Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pocatière and then continue them at the Major Seminary and finished them in Rome where he obtained a doctorate in Theology in 1907, and another in Canon Law the next year. During his studies at La Pocatière, he won the Prince of Wales prize for ranking first in Rhetoric in the entire province of Quebec. Father Albert was ordained a priest on 9 July 1905 in Chatham Cathedral and later became curate or assistant in the parishes of Chatham, Pokemouche-en-Haut and Bathurst, New Brunswick. Aged 31, he became parish priest of Shippagan and remained there from 1910 to 1921. While at Shippagan, Father Albert wrote the history of Madawaska, using the documentation of Prudent Mercure. Father Albert was guest speaker at the National Acadian Convention in 1908 in Saint-Basile. He delivered the sermon at the ceremony of the blessing of the cornerstone of the Grand-Pré memorial church. After his stay in the Acadian Peninsula, Father Albert was appointed parish priest of Grand-Sault in 1921.  He has a convent built for the nuns of Notre-Dame-du-Sacré-Coeur who had just separated from the congregation of the Sisters of Charity of Saint Jean. Father Albert died on 16 November 1924 at the age of forty-five.

 

Predominant New Brunswick Residences:

Madawaska, Chatham, Pokemouche-en-Haut, Bathurst, Shippegan, Grand Falls

Archival Material