• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Elizabeth Scalia
          • Michael R. Heinlein
          • Effie Caldarola
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Mark Viviano
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Robyn Barberry
          • Hanael Bianchi
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
  • Advertising
  • Shop
        • Purchase Photos
        • Books/CDs/Prayer Cards
        • Magazine Subscriptions
        • Archdiocesan Directory
  • CR Radio
        • CR Radio
        • Protagonistas de Fe
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
Monsignor William F. Burke began his priestly ministry at St. Mark in Catonsville, where, in an undated photo, he is shown blessing the efforts of a local fraternal organization. (CR file)

Christmas past resonates for oldest pastor

December 23, 2019
By Paul McMullen
Filed Under: Advent, Feature, Local News, News, Our Back Pages

Sixty years ago, Monsignor William F. Burke (left) sported the same flat-top hairstyle as Johnny Unitas.

Monsignor William F. Burke, the oldest pastor in the Archdiocese of Baltimore, was ordained a priest 60 years ago, in 1959. Ten years ago, he was one of five men from his ordination class who reminisced with the Review about their first Christmas as a priest.

“I grew up on Park Circle (in northwest Baltimore) and as a boy went to St. Ambrose,” Monsignor Burke, 86, told the Review. “A lot of my Jewish friends that I grew up with wanted to come to midnight Mass, which always had a packed house. In those days, the only time you could have a midnight Mass was at Christmas.

“My first Christmas as a priest was at St. Mark in Catonsville. We had 6,000 people coming to church, and that was only 60 percent of the parish. Everything was all in Latin; you (the priest) faced the wall.”

That was, Monsignor Burke reminded the Review in a recent phone interview, three years before St. Mark completed its “new” church, in 1962.

That construction typified the growth seen in western Baltimore County at the time, as the Social Security Administration headquarters in Woodlawn began welcoming employees in January 1960. The Archdiocese of Baltimore had its own new edifice to admire and enjoy, as the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland, having been dedicated Nov. 15, 1959, celebrated its first Christmas the same year as the young Father Burke.

Secular matters were on the minds of many in Baltimore that year. Two days after Christmas, on Dec. 27, in the only National Football League championship game played in the Monumental City, the Colts opened the fourth quarter with 24 unanswered points to beat the New York Giants, 31-16. It was a rematch of the “The Greatest Game Ever Played,” the 1958 classic won in overtime by the Colts at Yankee Stadium.

Like Colts’ quarterback Johnny Unitas, the young Father Burke sported a flat-top hairstyle.

“I grew it out when everyone else did,” he said.

After a stint at St. Ann in Baltimore, Monsignor Burke became pastor of St. Francis of Assisi in Mayfield in November 1980. This year will mark his 40th Christmas there. He’ll celebrate the 5 p.m. Mass on Christmas Eve, and the 11:30 a.m. Mass on Christmas Day.

Over the years, he has come to expect ministering to larger than normal gatherings on the Feast of the Nativity of the Lord.

“You learn, early on, to do nothing but welcome them back,” Monsignor Burke said. “It’s a homecoming experience. Some haven’t been to church for a while, and plenty of others are regulars. Regardless, Jesus’s birthday calls us all together.”

Email Paul McMullen at pmcmullen@CatholicReview.org

 

Print Print

Primary Sidebar

Paul McMullen

Click here to view all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

| MOST POPULAR |

  • Pope Leo to return to practice of ‘imposing’ pallium on new archbishops

  • Archbishop Lori announces appointments, including pastor and associate pastor assignments

  • Pope’s brother says even as a baby, future pontiff had a spiritual ‘air’ about him

  • Diversity is cause for strength, not division, pope tells Rome clergy

  • Prodigal son to priest

| Latest Local News |

Prodigal son to priest

Radio Interview: Books and Authors: Inspiring Trailblazers

Future priest from Congo has a heart of service

Sister Joan Minella, former principal and pastoral life director, dies

Archbishop Lori offers encouragement to charitable agencies affected by federal cuts

| Latest World News |

High court sends Catholic groups’ challenge to N.Y. abortion-coverage mandate back to state courts

Religious Liberty Commission examines imperiled Native American sacred site, mandatory reporter law

As ‘new nightmare’ unfolds between Israel and Iran, ‘never-ending tragedy’ in Gaza continues

Pope asks Italian bishops to proclaim the Gospel, teach peace

Pope Leo XIV will escape Rome’s heat in July by going to papal villa

| Catholic Review Radio |

CatholicReview · Catholic Review Radio

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • High court sends Catholic groups’ challenge to N.Y. abortion-coverage mandate back to state courts
  • Religious Liberty Commission examines imperiled Native American sacred site, mandatory reporter law
  • As ‘new nightmare’ unfolds between Israel and Iran, ‘never-ending tragedy’ in Gaza continues
  • Thank you to a one-of-a-kind teacher
  • Pope asks Italian bishops to proclaim the Gospel, teach peace
  • Pope Leo XIV will escape Rome’s heat in July by going to papal villa
  • Almost half of U.S. adults have Catholic connection, but Mass makes significant difference in Catholic identity
  • Prodigal son to priest
  • U.S. bishop calls for ardent prayer, diplomacy as Israel-Iran strikes continue

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2025 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED