In Memoriam: Fr. Al Babin, C.Ss.R.
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July 11, 2022Fr. Albert (Al) Babin, a beloved leader who influenced generations of Redemptorist missionaries, died at Mercy Hospital in St. Louis at the age of 95 on July 4. The eldest member of the Denver Province, he celebrated his 75th jubilee as a Redemptorist and 70th jubilee of ordination to the priesthood this year. Considered by many as the consummate “Southern Gentleman,” he leaves a legacy as a respected teacher, mentor and friend.
Albert Clarence Babin was born on November 13, 1926 in New Orleans. Two weeks later he was baptized at nearby St. Alphonsus Parish. He attended St. Alphonsus School, and credited members of the local Redemptorist community with nurturing his religious vocation.
He professed temporary vows at DeSoto, MO on August 2, 1947 and perpetual vows at Pine City, MN on September 2, 1950. He was ordained to the priesthood at Immaculate Conception Seminary in Oconomowoc on June 26, 1952.
Fr. Al began his ministry – and served nearly two decades – in the Redemptorist formation system. He was appointed to the faculty at St. Joseph’s College in Kirkwood, MO in 1954. Fr. Gil Enderle, a student at that time, remembers him as a quiet, serious teacher of Latin and English, and particularly effective in sharing his love of literature. During a memorable retreat day he told the youngsters in a booming voice, “Some may hope to enter into this way of life by the back door. Gentlemen. There is no back door!”
During this time, Fr. Al also preached retreats, Lenten courses and 40 Hours Devotions throughout the Archdiocese of St. Louis. Five years later when he joined the faculty at St. Joseph’s Preparatory College in Edgerton, WI, he continued the same ministries in the Diocese of Madison.
Fr. Al was named director of Holy Redeemer Seminary in Lacombe, LA in 1961. He also served on the faculty, and was assigned local community superior. Fr. Gil also served on the faculty at that time. “I admired him greatly; he was an excellent rector. He was always firm but fair. He lived by the old adage, ‘If you keep the rule, the rule will keep you.’ He was authentic; a genuine man of deep spirituality.”
Fr. Al was named Novice Master and local community superior of Blessed John Neumann House in Clinton, IA in 1967-1968, and continued in those positions at Immaculate Conception Seminary in Oconomowoc in 1968-1972.
In his next assignment, Fr. Al was assigned as a parish priest and served as treasurer of the local community at Holy Ghost Parish in Houston. In 1975, he was elected Vice Provincial Superior of the Vice Province of New Orleans. Fr. Gil served on the Extraordinary Vice Provincial Council at that time, and praised his organizational and time management skills. “He was a no-nonsense individual with a good heart,” Fr. Gil said. “He was a very thoughtful man who never simply reacted to a situation.
He thought before he spoke, and especially before he made decisions that affected his confreres. I always had the utmost respect for him.”
After serving two terms at the helm of the Vice Province, Fr. Al was named pastor and local community superior of St. Alphonsus Parish in New Orleans. He remained local community superior but was appointed an itinerant mission preacher in 1986-1987. Confreres called upon his leadership skills once again, and he was elected Ordinary Consultor for the 1987-1990 term.
Fr. Al spent a fulfilling decade as an mission preacher based at St. John Neumann House in Biloxi, MS. He also served as Vice Postulator for the Cause for Canonization of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos from 1996 until 1999. In 2000, he was appointed local community superior of St. John Neumann House. When Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast in August of 2005, his community sought refuge at Liguori.
Fr. Al returned to Biloxi and remained in residence until 2006, when he officially retired and relocated to St. Clement Redemptorist Mission House in Liguori. Fr. Al was a pillar of the St. Clement community. He continued to serve in leadership positions and provided help-out work in nearby parishes until his health no longer permitted. He was always readily available for spiritual direction, confession, and other ministries, until the time of his death.
Generations of confreres will remember his beautiful voice, his gentle compassion and generosity, and his personal example of holiness. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and may perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace.
(Fr. Gil Enderle, Fr. Byron Miller and Fr. Tom Donaldson contributed to this article.)
