Date of death: 6/21/2013
Saint Meinrad Class: O 1974
The Rev. Edward T. Alberts of Holy Family Catholic Church, died early Friday morning at Vanderbilt Medical Center where he was being treated for cancer. He was 65. Father Ed” as he was affectionately known, led the Brentwood parish from its start. Holy Family was founded by decree of then-Nashville Diocese Bishop James D. Niedergeses on July 19, 1989, the same day he named Father Alberts as the new church’s pastor.The congregation was informed of his passing Friday morning by associate pastor, Father Titus Augustine.”His suffering has ceased and the angels have surrounded him to be with our heavenly Father. Please keep Father Ed in your thoughts and prayers as well as his dear family, pastoral team, friends, caretakers and our family parish. Please remember that he loved you all and was loved by all,” a message posted on the church’s website stated.Former Brentwood City Commissioner Joe Reagan and his late wife Betty were among the committee of local residents who helped bring a parish to Brentwood. He recalled the day the phone rang 24 years ago at their home. Betty answered, and the voice on the other end said, “I’m your new pastor.”For more than two decades, Reagan said the priest was a “good friend, and certainly a good pastor for me.””He was an excellent leader, and helped Holy Family become one of the finest parishes in the diocese,” Reagan said. “He has earned his rest in heaven.”According to the church’s history, on Aug. 6, 1989, Alberts led the first Mass of what was then known as Brentwood Catholic Community in Brentwood High School. It began with close to 300 registered families.”Father Ed was very funny, and my children adored him,” church member Beth McGee said, who shared a few examples of his holy humor.”When our family was able to bring the communion items and collection basket to the alter during Mass, the younger kids of course always wanted to carry the money. When we got to the front, Father Ed would receive it from them and shake the basket a little, and say quietly, G╟ You want some of that?'”Sometimes Jesus or God would G╟ call’ Father Ed’s cellphone during a children’s Mass at Christmas or First Communion,” she continued.”He has been a part of our family life events such as baptisms, first communions, reconciliations and confirmations for the last 19 years. We admire him for how far he has brought this parish since its inception, and will miss him dearly.”Father Ed saw the church through its phenomenal growth. The church broke ground on its Crockett Road property in the fall of 1992 and the first phase of its building project, which included the worship area, was dedicated the following July. By 1994, the parish had grown to nearly 800 families.Today the thriving church has thousands of members, has continued to expand its campus and serves not only the greater Brentwood area but has an international impact as well, with annual mission trips to Haiti among its ministries.The Rev. Alberts was born in Logansport, Indiana on June 13, 1948. Ordained by Bishop Niedergeses on May 24, 1975 at St. Edward Church in Nashville, he served several others parishes in the diocese prior to his appointment to the new Brentwood church.He is preceded in death by his parents, Edward J. Alberts and Dolores Alberts and sister, Kathaleen Pasquale, all of Franklin. Father Alberts is survived by three nieces, Annette Shaver, (Trey) of Fairview, Tenn., Suzanne Thompson (Chris), of Murfreesboro, Tenn., Christine Randolph (Tiford), of Brentwood; one brother, Steven K. Alberts (Anne), of Grovetown, Ga.; two nephews Brendan Alberts, Chicago, Ill. and Brian Alberts, Bethesda, Md. He also has several great nieces and nephews.Visitation will be at Holy Family on Monday, June 24 from 4 to 7:30 p.m. A Vigil Service will begin at 7:30 p.m. with Fr. Titus presiding.On Tuesday, June 25, visitation will begin at 9 a.m. at the church with a Funeral Mass following at 10 a.m. Bishop David Choby will preside at the Mass and Father John Henrick will be the homilist. Father Alberts will be cremated after the Mass and burial will be scheduled later in the priest circle at Calvary Cemetery in Nashville.Arrangements are being handled by Marshall Donnelly Combs Funeral Home.”