Thank you, Father Joe

I’ve long admired Father Joe Breighner’s work. He’s been writing his column for The Catholic Review for more than 50 years—an unbelievable run. He’s published books, hosted a radio show for decades, and touched numerous people’s lives with his stories of faith and his pastoral approach.

As a child growing up in Baltimore, I enjoyed reading his column in The Catholic Review. But it was his radio show that came to mean so much to me when I was a new college graduate.

Back then, I had started my first full-time job in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. I would spend most weekends with my family in Baltimore. Every Sunday night, the time would come for me to leave, to make the two-hour trip back to my apartment in Lebanon. I loved my job, but I was often homesick while away. I didn’t like leaving my family.

Each week, I would time my departure so I could listen to Father Joe’s radio show, “Country Roads,” on WPOC as I started my drive.

Listening to Father Joe’s show always helped set me on a good path for the road ahead. His voice and his stories would keep me company as I drove up 83 toward Pennsylvania. He always seemed to offer just the right faith message. As I listened to his stories, which were often funny and sweet, life didn’t seem so daunting.

The show would start to crackle and fade as I drove farther north. But on a good Sunday, I could make it most of the way through the show before I lost the program. If I managed to hear the strains of John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” closing the show, I was especially happy.

That was 25 years ago. Father Joe was already well-established as a writer and radio show host then. I was just starting out as a 22-year-old newspaper reporter, trying to see whether I could make a life with writing and storytelling. I never imagined that one day I would be writing my own column in the same publication.

This summer, when I realized that The Catholic Review would be honoring Father Joe with an event to celebrate him and mark his retirement, I knew I wanted to be there. I’ve enjoyed his work for many years, though we’ve never actually met.

I arrived at the event at St. Joseph’s in Fullerton, thinking maybe there would be a small crowd. There were more than 300 people! It was unbelievable and yet made all the sense in the world. We all love Father Joe.

I slipped into line, hoping for a chance just to say hello, but the line moved slowly. Everyone wanted to meet and connect with Father Joe. As the minutes flew by and the line inched along, I wondered whether I would actually have a chance to speak with him.

Still, I waited. And finally, finally, I was able to step up and shake his hand and introduce myself. He knew who I was, which was such a surprise to me, but seemed so characteristic of him and his warmth and care for others.

I was so grateful to have the chance to thank Father Joe and tell him what his writing has meant to me over the years.

He had to be tired after hours of greeting people, but he acted like I was just the person he wanted to see.

I’m so very grateful. And I know many of us are. What a blessing Father Joe is to us.

Thank you, Father Joe, for everything. Congratulations and enjoy your retirement.

Also see: A prayer for Father Joe Breighner

Main photo by Kevin Parks, Catholic Review

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