Reverend Monsignor Albert J. Contons, 98, died peacefully at the Regina Cleri Residence for Retired Priests on March 1, 2023.
Monsignor Contons was the son of the late Steponas & Viktorija Contons. He was baptized at St. Peter Lithuanian Parish in July 1924.
Expressing a desire to become a doctor, he was enrolled by his parents in 1935 as a student in Boston Public Latin School, founded in 1635 as a prep. school for Harvard. In his junior year of high school, he voiced his desire to study for the priesthood. He graduated from Boston Public Latin School in 1941. He then enrolled in St. Clement's Hall of the St. John Seminary.
In May 1948, he was ordained to the priesthood in Holy Cross Cathedral, Boston. He was assigned to St. Peter Lithuanian Parish as an assistant to Father Francis Virmauskis. Archbishop Cushing also appointed him as a Juvenile Court Chaplain of South Boston District Court.
His experience at St. Peter included welcoming several hundred Displaced Persons arriving into the parish from Lithuanian refugee camps of postwar Germany. The two parish school buildings were bulging at the seams with children who spoke only Lithuanian. Enrollment peaked at 540 in 1954.
He continued to pursue his academic interests. He achieved a Master's Degree in Economics in June 1953. During the summers of 1962-64, he pursued graduate studies in French and was awarded the "Diploma Elementaire de Francais" qualifying him to teach French language and Literature in the schools of Canada. In August 1977, he was awarded a Master of Divinity Degree from St. John Seminary.
In 1952, he was appointed to the faculty of the St. Sebastian Country Day School for Boys, Newton, MA, where he taught Latin, Religion, and French over a period of twenty years. During that time, he also served as the tennis coach.
In June 1973, Cardinal Medeiros appointed him pastor of St. Margaret Parish, Beverly Farms, MA. Working closely with the parishioners, they successfully improved program offerings, attendance, ultimately liquidating $75,000 in debt and saving $90,000 to be utilized for church renovation in time for their 75th parish anniversary.
Cardinal Medeiros then requested that he return to St. Peter Lithuanian Parish in April 1979. During that period, Monsignor Contons was part of the analysis of the use of the existing properties adjoining the church, along with the condition of the church itself. St. Peter Lithuanian Parish was built and originally completed in 1901. It required major renovation. As anticipated, the wheels of change take time. Renovations began on Nov.1, 1990 and were completed by April 21, 1991.
On April 21, 1998, then Father Contons was informed that Pope John Paul II had named him Prelate of Honor with the title of Monsignor. This distinction was the highlight of his celebration of his 50th Jubilee of Ordination to the Priesthood on May 3, 1998.
Always proud of his Lithuanian heritage, Monsignor Contons was an active member of the Knights of Lithuania for decades serving as a Supreme Council Spiritual Advisor for 9 years. He authored a summary adaptation of the 50th Jubilee history of St. Peter Lithuanian Parish and a biography of St. Casimir in booklet form in 1958.
In addition to his parents, Monsignor Contons was preceded in death by his brothers Stephen and John, and his sister Ruth Slanina. He is survived by 10 nieces and nephews.
Intelligent, industrious and motivating, laced with a quick wit and a dry sense of humor, Monsignor Contons was beloved by his family and parishioners alike. He performed countless baptisms, weddings, and funerals, sometimes traveling great distance at the request of the families.
A visitation will take place on Saturday March 11, 2023 from 3PM - 4PM at St. Peter Lithuanian Parish, 75 Flaherty Way, South Boston, MA followed by a funeral mass at 4 PM.
Please note, flowers are not permitted in the church during Lent.
Memorial donations may be made to the Lithuanian Apostolate, at Lithuanian Apostolate of the Archdiocese of Boston, c/o SBSC, P.O. Box 270799, South Boston, MA 02127.
The family would like to thank the staff at Regina Cleri for their excellent care of Monsignor Contons.