Saint of St. Albert

“Brother Anthony’s Gravesite” Photo courtesy of Robert M.

The St. Albert Roman Catholic Cemetery might seem like an odd tourist destination, but it’s definitely worth a visit. It’s one of the oldest European burial grounds in Alberta, and the view of our city from atop the hill is breathtaking. But there is something even more interesting going on there. Among the graves of St. Albert’s founders, you can find those of the oblate brothers, the missionaries who first settled on the banks of the Sturgeon. The graves of the brothers are fairly non-descript, mirroring the simple lives these men led. Yet there is one grave among them that stands apart. Around the grave of Brother Anthony Kowalczyk, you can find live flowers, lit candles and various religious offerings. But just who is tending to this single grave while the others fade into the mists of time? It’s an interesting story.

Brother Anthony, a Polish-born missionary, was one of many brothers who came to St. Albert to promote the teachings of the Catholic Church. He was soon set apart, however, when his arm was crushed in a tragic sawmill accident. Hospitals were few and far-between in those days, so by the time Brother Anthony arrived for treatment, the wound had become horribly infected, and his arm had to be amputated. Though this type of trauma might shake some people’s faith, Brother Anthony saw it as a blessing from God. Anthony immediately returned to his missionary work, working just as hard as he had before the accident, rejoicing in the injury he had sustained while working in the service of the Church.

Brother Anthony’s inspiring story eventually caught the attention of a young Pope John Paul II, and he was soon nominated for sainthood, thus grabbing the attention of the entire Catholic world. However, in order to be accepted as a saint in the Catholic Church, one has to have performed no less than three miracles; Brother Anthony hasn’t quite hit that quota, which is the reason for all of the flowers and candles atop his grave. Catholics from all over the world make pilgrimage to Anthony’s resting place and leave behind offerings and prayers, hoping to draw inspiration from Anthony’s bravery in the face of a life-changing injury. If any of these pilgrims were to recover from their illnesses and injuries following their journey to St. Albert, it might just be enough to push Anthony over that three-miracle quota and turn him into the first saint to come out Western Canada.

So if you do visit the cemetery atop Mission hill, be sure to enjoy the view, take in the history and maybe even light a candle of your own. You may not end up the recipient of Anthony’s third miracle, but his story might give you a little peace of mind at the very least.

For more information about the heritage of Father Lacombe and Mission Hill click here.