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Rev. Alvin P. Metzger, O.S.A. (1928 - 2007)

Rev. Alvin P. Metzger, O.S.A. entered eternal life November 9, 2007, after suffering a stroke earlier that day.

Alvin Peter Metzger, Jr. was born April 14, 1928 in Rockford, Illinois to Alvin P., Sr. and Josephine H. Metzger. He was Baptized April 22, 1928 at St. Anthony Hospital, Rockford. He received the Sacrament of Confirmation October 24, 1938 at St. Joseph Church, Freeport, Illinois.

Having graduated from St. Joseph Elementary School, Freeport, in 1942, Alvin did one year of secondary school studies at St. Thomas High School, Rockford. In 1943 he entered the minor seminary program at St. Monica Seminary, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. He studied there for two years, then transferred to Augustinian Academy, Staten Island, New York for his senior year. He earned his high school diploma from Augustinian Academy in 1946.

Alvin was received into the Augustinian Novitiate September 9, 1946. He professed Simple Vows September 10, 1947 and Solemn Vows September 10, 1950. He was ordained a Priest in Chicago, Illinois May 29, 1954.

Following profession of vows, Alvin studied at Villanova University, Villanova, Pennsylvania, where he earned a B. A. in Philosophy in 1951. He followed the program of theological studies at Augustinian College, Washington, D.C. from 1951 to 1955. During those years he also studied at Catholic University, Washington, earning an M. S. in Physics in 1956.

Father Metzger’s first assignments were as teacher, first at St. Thomas High School, Rockford (1955-1959), then at Mendel Catholic High School, Chicago (1959-1963) and Austin Catholic High School, Detroit, Michigan (1963-1968). He was assigned to St. Nicholas of Tolentine Monastery, Olympia Fields, Illinois in 1968, and that year taught part-time at Tolentine College there and part-time at Mendel Catholic High School. He served as Assistant Pastor of St. Anthony Parish, Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 1969.

In the Fall of 1969, he began to write and edit reference articles for Encyclopedia Britannica in the area of chemistry and physics. He continued his work at Encyclopedia Britannica until 1973.

Father Metzger became Assistant Pastor of St. Rita Parish, Chicago in 1973. In 1976 he took courses in Clinical Pastoral Education at Mount Carmel Mercy Hospital, Detroit. He was Chaplain at Bon Secours Hospital, Grosse Pointe, Michigan from 1977 to 1979, and at Trinity Memorial Hospital, Cudahy, Wisconsin from 1979 to 1981. While serving at Trinity he resided at St. Rita Parish, Racine, Wisconsin, and was Associate Pastor there in 1981 and 1982.

During 1982 and 1983, Father Metzger spent a year of prayer at Franciscan Retreat, Cedar Lake, Indiana. Following his year of prayer, he was assigned briefly in 1983 to St. Monica Monastery, Oconomowoc, before being named Associate Pastor of St. Rita Parish, Chicago. In 1984 he ministered in the missions of Peru.

In 1985 he was named Associate Pastor of Holy Rosary Parish, Kenosha, Wisconsin. Later that same year, he moved to Mendel Monastery, Chicago, and became a Chaplain at Palos Community Hospital, Palos Heights, Illinois. He was assigned to St. Mary Parish, Rockford in 1988. There he cared for his seriously ill mother. Following her death in 1989, he ministered in the parish.

He returned to Holy Rosary Parish in 1992 as Associate Pastor. In 1993 he was named Prior of the Novitiate Community of Bl. Stephen Bellisini at St. Rita Parish, Racine, a position he held until 1999. He continued to be part of the formation team for the Novices while residing in the community at Racine until the time of his death.

While in Racine, he also served as moderator of the St. Rita Augustinian Seculars, a fraternity of lay people who seek to grow in their spiritual life, especially in its Augustinian dimension. He was in 2006 named Director of Augustinian Seculars in the Midwest U.S., with a goal of facilitating the establishment of additional Augustinian lay fraternities in new locations.

Father Metzger is remembered as a deeply spiritual and prayerful man. His example and his teaching had a profound effect on the Augustinian Novices during his 14 years at the Novitiate. He was an understanding and merciful confessor and counselor to many. He was constantly seeking to learn, especially in theological and biblical studies. He had an encyclopedic knowledge in many fields. He radiated a calmness and peace to those who were in his presence.

A funeral Mass was celebrated November 13 at St. Rita Church, Racine. He is buried in the Augustinian plot at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Alsip, Illinois.

Memorial gifts may be made to Augustinian Guild, Tolentine Center, 20300 Governors Hwy., Olympia Fields, IL 60461-1011.