Father Albert Vincent Sterzer, C.Ss.R. was born on August 1, 1936 of Lawrence Sterzer and Helen Koett. He professed his vows in the Redemptorist congregation on September 15, 1956 and was ordained to the priesthood on June 23, 1963.

Born in the parish of St. Alphonsus, East Kildonan, Winnipeg, Albert is the youngest of six children of Lawrence Sterzer and Helen Koett. He grew up in East Kildonan, attending St. Alphonsus elementary and high school, graduating in 1953. Following the dozen members of his mother’s relatives into religious life, he attended St. Mary’s College, the Redemptorist preparatory college just outside Brockville, Ontario, graduating in 1955. He entered the Redemptorist Novitiate in Senneville, Québec, professing first vows there on September 15, 1956.

Beginning seminary studies during the last year of St. Alphonsus, the Redemptorist seminary for 25 years in Woodstock, ON, he moved to the new seminary, Holy Redeemer College in Windsor, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree at Assumption College, Windsor, in 1959. Completing theological studies at the Redemptorist seminary in Gars-am-Inn, Germany, he returned to Windsor and was ordained on June 23, 1963 at Holy Redeemer College by Bishop Emmet Carter of the London Diocese.

A week later at St. Alphonsus, East Kildonan, Fr. Sterzer sung his first solemn High Mass on June 30, 1963. Among the clergy in the sanctuary was a relative, the Abbot of Munster. After Mass, a luncheon was held in the parish hall. In the evening, the CWL, Knights of Columbus, the St. Alphonsus Credit Union and other clubs held a reception for the newly-ordained Fr. Sterzer.

Following graduation in 1964 from Notre Dame University, South Bend, Indiana, with a Master of Arts degree in sociology, he served first as a vocation assistant (1964-1965) for the Edmonton Province and for months as an assistant at St. Alphonsus parish, Edmonton. After these assignments, Fr. Sterzer began a university teaching career (1965-1970) as a professor of sociology at St. Thomas More College, part of the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon. Returning as pastor to St. Alphonsus parish, Edmonton (1970-1972), he served as pastor (1972-1975) at Our Lady of Perpetual Help parish in Calgary.

As a founding team leader of the new Western Mission team in 1975, Fr. Sterzer conducted missions and renewal missions across Western Canada with the other founding members, Frs. David Cottingham and Claude Lemieux.

For Fr. Sterzer, this apostolate ended after three years when he was elected as Provincial Superior of the Edmonton Province in 1978. He was re-elected for a second term from 1981 to 1984.

Edmonton-Toronto Provincial Superior Michael Brehl recalled that as Provincial Superior for six years, Fr. Sterzer was well-trusted and respected by his peers.

After administration, he returned to parishes as pastor at St. Joseph’s parish, Grande Prairie, (1984-1990); his home parish of St. Alphonsus parish, East Kildonan (1990-1993) and Holy Trinity parish in Calgary (1993-1995). In the last two assignments, he presided over the departure of the Redemptorists from both parishes.

In a celebration of Fr. Sterzer’s golden jubilee as a Redemptorist, Fr. Brehl also said these years manifested Fr. Sterzer’s preserving fidelity, his generosity and “his never saying ‘no’ to any request -undertaking the very difficult task of withdrawal from Redemptorist parishes, where we have a long history, including the parish in which he grew up.”

Fr. Brehl noted Fr. Sterzer’s commitment to prayer. “If you don’t know where to find Albert, there’s always a good chance you’ll find him on his knees before the Blessed Sacrament.”

After a sabbatical (1995-1996), Fr. Sterzer was assigned as an assistant pastor to St. Joseph’s parish, Moose Jaw, (1996-2001); St. Teresa’s parish, St. John’s (2001-2005); and administrator at St. Peter’s parish, Saint John, (2005-2006) where he guided the Redemptorist departure from the parish after 122 years. Since 1984, he has engaged in programs such as Cursillo and Engaged Encounter in addition to his parish duties. He returned to St. Joseph’s in Grande Prairie beginning in 2006, where he initially served as pastoral associate, and then moved into retired assistance after over a decade there. In 2014, Fr. Sterzer fully retired from offering pastoral assistance at St. Joseph’s in Grande Prairie and moved in 2023 to Heritage Lodge and then the Grande Prairie Care Centre.

Fr. Sterzer passed away on Wednesday, January 21, 2026 at the age of 89.

In 1996, Fr. Sterzer wrote: “The greatest influence on my life was the all-encompassing conviction that happiness in this life would be achieved only by doing what God wanted me to do. … When it became clear to me that being a Redemptorist is what God wanted me to do, I followed that prompting. So far I have not been disappointed.”

Aside from being a priest, Fr. Sterzer was also gifted in drawing. We would like to share with you some sketches that Father Sterzer made in a sketchbook preserved at the Provincial Archives in Toronto: