Father José Leon Albeniz
15 October 1955–31 January 2016
Whenever one of his spiritual children died, Saint Josemaria could not hide his sorrow. He would go to the tabernacle and speak with Jesus, making a filial complaint. Later on he would think along the lines of what he said at a public gathering in Buenos Aires, on June 23, 1974, speaking to a woman who had lost a child:
“Well, God knows best. He is not like a hunter in search of prey. He is like a gardener, who cares for the flowers, and waters them, and protects them. And he only cuts them when they are at the peak of their beauty and richness. God takes souls when they are ripe” (Cf. josemariaescriva.info).
These words of St. Josemaria were a great comfort when we learnt that Fr. Albeniz had passed away last January 31st.
He received a degree in Chemistry from the University of Barcelona in 1977 and went on to teach at the Colegio Viaró in the same city. In 1979 he moved to the international seminary of Opus Dei in Rome, and completed a doctorate in philosophy at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross. He worked in Rome for around ten years for the Prelature close to blessed Alvaro del Portillo, the first Prelate of Opus Dei. He was ordained to the diaconate on January 25, 1990, and to the priesthood on June 10 of the same year by Saint John Paul II. In January 1991, he came to Montreal to help the growth of Opus Dei in Canada.
Fr. Albeniz exercised his priestly ministry in Canada for 25 years. He was chaplain of a number of centres of Opus Dei, regular confessor at the Marie-Reine-du-Monde Cathedral and the Saint-Ambroise Church. He preached many retreats for men and women at the Manoir de Beaujeu, as well as giving spiritual direction to many people over the years. Since 1992 he held the post of Spiritual Director of the Prelature in Canada. He was also the chaplain of Centre Piedmont.
Warm and prudent in his advice, he was well loved in his priestly ministry. His passing is a great loss for Opus Dei.
His body will arrive at Saint-Ambroise Church on Friday, February 5, at 7:15 pm. A vigil will be held without interruption until the funeral mass on Saturday, February 6, at 11:00 am.
People are requested to make donations to FCE in lieu of flowers.