Fr. Alban Maguire, OFM
1980 – 1987
Fr. Alban Maguire, OFM, was born in Meriden, Conn., on Sept. 28, 1915. After graduating in 1928 from St. Joseph Elementary School in New Britain, Conn., and spending a year at a local high school, he enrolled in St. Joseph Seraphic Seminary in Callicoon, N.Y. His Franciscan vocation began with his response, unknown to his parents, to a vocation ad in The Anthonian.
He entered the novitiate at St. Bonaventure Friary, Paterson, N.J., in 1934, professing his temporary vows a year later. In 1938, he professed solemn vows, and he was ordained to the priesthood in Washington, D.C., in 1941.
Fr. Alban’s first two assignments, for one year each, were to Siena College in Loudonville, N.Y., and St. Francis of Assisi Church in New York City, before beginning graduate studies in theology at The Catholic University of America. In 1947, he was assigned as lector of dogmatic theology at Holy Name College while continuing to work on his doctorate, ultimately earning his STD in 1958.
Fr. Alban continued on the faculty of Holy Name College until 1973, accepting several responsibilities in addition to his teaching duties: chaplain at the University of Maryland, vicar, and guardian from 1964 to 1967, and Provincial Councilor from 1967 to 1973. In 1973, he became rector of Christ the King Seminary, Allegany, N.Y., overseeing the move of the seminary to East Aurora in 1974.
In 1976, Fr. Alban was elected Provincial Vicar, and in 1980, was chosen to be Provincial Minister to complete the unexpired term of Fr. Charles Finnegan, OFM. Fr. Alban was elected in his own right in 1982. During his administration, in response to changing needs, the Province began a process of withdrawing from a number of its ministerial commitments, but also assumed the care of St. Anthony Parish in Camden, N.J., and St. Camillus Parish in Silver Spring, Md.
At the end of his term in 1987, Fr. Alban served as an associate at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Wanaque, N.J., until 1990, spent two years at St. Anthony Shrine in Boston, and then became parochial vicar and ultimately senior friar-in-residence at St. Camillus Parish in Silver Spring.
In March 2000, Fr. Alban moved to Holy Name Friary in Ringwood, N.J., where he died March 21, 2001. Fr. Alban was 85 years old, a professed friar for 65 years and a priest for 59 years.
Fr. Alban Maguire, OFM
1980 – 1987

Fr. Alban Maguire, OFM, was born in Meriden, Conn., on Sept. 28, 1915. After graduating in 1928 from St. Joseph Elementary School in New Britain, Conn., and spending a year at a local high school, he enrolled in St. Joseph Seraphic Seminary in Callicoon, N.Y. His Franciscan vocation began with his response, unknown to his parents, to a vocation ad in The Anthonian.
He entered the novitiate at St. Bonaventure Friary, Paterson, N.J., in 1934, professing his temporary vows a year later. In 1938, he professed solemn vows, and he was ordained to the priesthood in Washington, D.C., in 1941.
Fr. Alban’s first two assignments, for one year each, were to Siena College in Loudonville, N.Y., and St. Francis of Assisi Church in New York City, before beginning graduate studies in theology at The Catholic University of America. In 1947, he was assigned as lector of dogmatic theology at Holy Name College while continuing to work on his doctorate, ultimately earning his STD in 1958.
Fr. Alban continued on the faculty of Holy Name College until 1973, accepting several responsibilities in addition to his teaching duties: chaplain at the University of Maryland, vicar, and guardian from 1964 to 1967, and Provincial Councilor from 1967 to 1973. In 1973, he became rector of Christ the King Seminary, Allegany, N.Y., overseeing the move of the seminary to East Aurora in 1974.
In 1976, Fr. Alban was elected Provincial Vicar, and in 1980, was chosen to be Provincial Minister to complete the unexpired term of Fr. Charles Finnegan, OFM. Fr. Alban was elected in his own right in 1982. During his administration, in response to changing needs, the Province began a process of withdrawing from a number of its ministerial commitments, but also assumed the care of St. Anthony Parish in Camden, N.J., and St. Camillus Parish in Silver Spring, Md.
At the end of his term in 1987, Fr. Alban served as an associate at St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Wanaque, N.J., until 1990, spent two years at St. Anthony Shrine in Boston, and then became parochial vicar and ultimately senior friar-in-residence at St. Camillus Parish in Silver Spring.
In March 2000, Fr. Alban moved to Holy Name Friary in Ringwood, N.J., where he died March 21, 2001. Fr. Alban was 85 years old, a professed friar for 65 years and a priest for 59 years.