Fr. Albert (Edward) Bourke of the Blessed Sacrament was born on March 13, 1909, in Arlington, Washington to parents Alfred and Elizabeth (nee Richards) Bourke. Father was clothed in the Carmelite habit on September 3, 1931, and made his simple profession on September 4, 1932 at Holy Hill, Hubertus, Wisconsin. From there, he went to Mount Carmel in Palestine to study for the priesthood. He was ordained a priest on May 7, 1939, by Bishop Traglia in the Carmelite Church of  St. Teresa in Rome.

During his priestly ministry, Fr. Albert served as Master of Students in Washington DC and then transferred to Brookline, Massachusetts where he served as Novice Master (1942). He later served terms as Provincial Superior of the Washington Province (1951-1954)(1955-1960) and was appointed Fourth Definitor to Father General in Rome (1961). In 1973 he was elected Superior of the Carmelite Monastery in Hinton, West Virginia and later spent his retirement years in Massachusetts.

Fr. Albert died on March 9, 1997, and is buried at the Carmelite Cemetery, Hubertus, Wisconsin.