Early life Albrinck was born in
Hunteburg, Hanover, in Germany and immigrated to Cincinnati when he was six years old. He attended
Holy Trinity Church in the
West End, receiving his
first communion and
confirmation there, as well as attending the parish school. He then attended
St. Xavier College, and upon graduating in 1849 went to
Saint-Sulpice Seminary in France to pursue priestly studies. He was ordained in
Notre-Dame de Paris on May 21, 1853, and returned to Cincinnati soon after.
Priesthood Parish ministry Following a brief sabbatical, Albrinck was made pastor of
Sacred Heart Church in
Pomeroy, Ohio, as well as adjacent territory in
Meigs,
Athens, and
Gallia counties in January 1854, also founding St. Louis Church in
Gallipolis. In 1859, he was moved to
Reading, Ohio and served as pastor there as well as
chaplain to the
Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur based in that city. During this time he also founded St. Charles church at
Carthage, and St. Gabriel church at
Glendale. Following the death of the vicar-general for German-speakers in the archdiocese in 1885,
William Elder promoted Albrinck to that position the same year. Upon the death of the vicar-general for English speakers the following year, Albrinck also assumed that position, marking the end of separate administration based on language groups in the archdiocese. With the decrees of the
Third Council of Baltimore encouraging the separation of preparatory minor seminaries from major theological seminaries, Archbishop Elder granted Albrinck $5,265 to purchase land in what is now
Mount Washington, Cincinnati and begin building
Saint Gregory Seminary. Albrinck served as rector from 1890 to 1892, overseeing the first class studying at Holy Trinity school when construction on the Mt. Washington property was delayed by a
strike. Many of the fruit trees which used to populate the grounds of St. Gregory were planted by Albrinck, with estimates stating he planted over 1,500 trees during his two years as rector. In February 1902, Albrinck fell ill with
pneumonia and died on February 18. His funeral was at Holy Trinity Church on February 28, 1902. == References ==