Obituary Notice
This obituary notice has been digitally processed from a scanned archival document. Some words may be imperfectly rendered.
Fr, Alban Cowley (1828-1891) Father Alban of St,Anthony, £4.Dec, Provineé of St.Joseph. Fr.Alban, ote of the oldest priests in the Province of St.Joseph was born of Protestant parents in Englané on the 27th of Jan.1828 and was called Alfred Cowley. After his conversion to the Catholic faith he was called by Almighty God to our Congregation, clothed in the holy habit in July 1851 and professed in the following year. Several times he was elected Rector and likewise Superior of our House in Paris. In the last years of his life he went to live at Evesham where a new mission was established in 1887 of which he had the care. When he went to that town there were only eleven Catholics, but by reason of the zeal and energy he showed he increased the number to 80 before he died. His weak corstitution and increasing infirmities rendered the work too difficult for his strength, but wishing as he said to die in the field he exerted all his endeavours to remain at his post till the last, and when he was saying Mass for the last time the as~ sistance of two seculars was necessary to help him from the Altar. Perceiving that his end was not far distant he went to Live with his brethren in Broadway to prepare himself for death and there gave edi-~ fication by his fervour and resignation to the Will of God, who was pleased to call him to his reward on the vigil of Christmas,whilst | the religious were solemnly chanting the lst Vespers of that Feast.
Source: Obituary Notices, Provincial Archive, St Joseph's Province. Passionist Congregation.