• 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
For more than three decades, Father Joseph Breighner was the host of a popular radio show called "The Country Road." (CR file)

Fifty years a priest

May 11, 2021
By Father Joseph Breighner
Filed Under: Commentary, Feature, Wit & Wisdom

In May 1971, along with nine other men, I was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Baltimore in the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen. I can’t believe that that was 50 years ago.

Of that group, several have gone back to God, including Monsignor Ed Miller and other departed friends.

Others continue in various pastoral ministries: Monsignor Tom Phillips, and Fathers Joe Bochenek, Larry Frazier and Mike Roach.

After ordination, I always expected to be a parish priest. Most of my life, however, has been in pastoral counseling, writing for the Catholic Review, and, for more than 30 years, writing and recording a syndicated radio show produced at WPOC in Baltimore. Various stations around the country still air the show.

Writing, preaching and pastoral counseling have always been my favorite ministries. So immediately after those 12 years of seminary and ordination, I went back to school to get a certificate in pastoral counseling. I have always been touched that people would pour out their hearts to me. I wanted to make sure that I was the best listener and counselor that I could be.

Someone years ago defined the priesthood as “bringing people to God, and God to people.” God is always looking for us, but sometimes we are running from God. Many of our images of God are fearful. I wanted to assure people that God is a loving God. God isn’t looking to judge us, but to love us.

Without faith in God, life can seem pointless. Are we just the chance results of stars colliding? Or, have we been created, in whatever way, by a loving Creator who wanted to share his life with others?

I believe that love is the creative energy of the universe. God is the origin of all species and all life. It’s a God who wanted to share his own joy and life with us. God came among us in history in the person of Jesus. He was willing to die to show us the depth of his love.

So I invite you to celebrate this anniversary of my ordination by inviting God into the silence of your life, by reading the Scriptures and sharing in the Eucharist.

God thought we were worth his life. Can we dare to live our lives for God?

Also see

Radio Interview: The music and ministry of Seph Schlueter

Radio Interview: Exploring the Nicene Creed – Part Two

Radio Interview: Exploring the Nicene Creed – Part One

Question Corner: Can we bring the Precious Blood to the sick?

corpus christi

Pope leads Corpus Christi procession through streets of Rome

Hundreds of thousands march in Poland’s Corpus Christi processions

Print Print

Primary Sidebar

Father Joseph Breighner

View all posts from this author

| Recent Commentary |

Pope Leo XIV champions media literacy

A sower of light in the shadows

Creation, human and divine

Mahmoud v. Taylor: A Supreme Court victory for parents, freedom

How and why to laugh like a saint

| Recent Local News |

Quo Vadis attracts biggest crowd ever, promotes camaraderie and faith

Lay associates journey with the Oblate Sisters of Providence

Father Robert Wojsław dies at 52

Scopes Monkey Trial ignited century-long debate on evolution and belief 

Deacon Gary Elliott Dumer Jr., active in men’s ministry, dies

| 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

  • Pope Leo XIV champions media literacy
  • Whatever the genre, Dion’s music still focuses on life’s larger questions
  • A sower of light in the shadows
  • When it comes to serving students with disabilities, how are Catholic schools doing?
  • Tolton ambassadors renew goal to promote, pray for famed Black priest’s canonization
  • Creation, human and divine
  • NBC’s Tom Llamas says Catholic education deepened his faith, pushed him to always do his best
  • Quo Vadis attracts biggest crowd ever, promotes camaraderie and faith
  • Three dead, Holy Family Gaza pastor injured after mid-morning Israeli attack

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2025 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED