A Mass of Resurrection for Father Albert Castellino, CSsR, was celebrated March 27 at St. Clement Redemptorist Mission Community Chapel in Barnhart. Father Albert died March 23 at SSM Health St. Clare Hospital in Fenton. He was 91 years old and had been living in a skilled nursing facility for several years. A dedicated Redemptorist missionary, Father Albert preached the Good News in four languages on five continents for nearly six decades.
Albert Joseph Castellino was born on Sept. 25, 1934, in Pune vel Poona, in Maharashtra, India. He professed temporary vows with the Province of Bangalore on Aug. 2, 1954, and perpetual vows on Aug. 2, 1957. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 27, 1961.
Father Albert met and worked with St. Teresa of Kolkata in his native country, and she remained a life-long inspiration to him. He served as associate pastor of Our Lady of Fatima and superior of Holy Redeemer Church in Alambagh, Lucknow, before he began the preaching apostolate, which became his life’s work. He was a contemporary of Father Peter DeSousa, CSsR, who launched the Marriage Encounter program in Bangalore in 1973. Couples from the United States assisted in building the program in India and asked the charismatic Father Albert to return to the United States to lead the program in the Diocese of Boise.
While in the United States, Father Albert became involved in other dynamic movements within the Church: the Cursillo and Charismatic movements, as well as Teens Encounter Christ and Engaged Couples Weekends. He pursued admittance to the former Oakland Province and began preaching missions throughout the West Coast in 1981. He eventually joined the former St. Louis Province in 1988 and was known as a creative, engaging and effective itinerant preacher. He maintained an extensive network of friends throughout the country.
As a member of the Mission Team, Father Albert was stationed in Chicago at St. Alphonsus Parish from 1986-93 and St. Michael Parish from 1993-99, when he was assigned to St. Joseph Parish in Denver, Colorado. Five years later, he transferred to Liguori Mission House in Liguori and officially retired in 2005. He was a joyful presence in community and a source of encouragement for anyone encountering challenges in ministry.
Father Albert moved to St. Clement Health Care Center as his health began to fail in 2013, then on to a nearby skilled nursing facility. He welcomed weekly visits from his confreres and was a devoted Redemptorist for more than 70 years.
