200 years of priesthood: Celebrating the Golden Jubilees of our priests

In our Catholic faith, the priesthood is often likened to a marriage, a lifelong covenant between a priest and his bride, the Church. This year, we celebrate the 50th Jubilee of four priests, honoring their dedicated service to the Church over the past five decades. Just as a golden wedding anniversary marks a couple’s enduring love and commitment, this milestone reflects these priests’ steadfast faith and tireless service.

We asked the four jubilarians to reflect on their priesthood over the last half-century. Read their responses and get to know them better!

Father Bill Breslin

1. How did you come to discern your vocation to the priesthood?

I was born in New Jersey, the youngest of four sons. My mom was a teacher, and my father was a salesman. I like to think I incorporated both aspects of my parents’ jobs: teaching people about God and selling them on who and what we are as a church. When I was 13, my mother died, and my father finished raising me. During my childhood, I never felt unloved despite losing my mother. My father really stepped up.

I went to seminary in Baltimore at 18. I always knew I wanted to be a priest from the get-go. I don’t remember too much of wanting to do anything else. Then, after I was ordained, I spent eight years there. But my brother Jack, who had moved out here and had three kids, lost his wife, so I came out to be here for the funeral. Then, a series of tragedies hit my family, including the loss of my father. It was way too much for me, so I asked to move here in 1977 to be close to my brother.

2. What have the last 50 years of priesthood looked like?

When I came here, I was assigned to St. Mary Magdalene Parish in Denver and was chaplain of Central Catholic High School. After that, I was assigned to Immaculate Heart of Mary in Northglenn for eight years. Then, I built the church at Queen of Peace in Aurora and stayed there for 14 years. Then, I moved to Sacred Heart of Jesus in Boulder for 12 years.

During my time there, I came down with bacterial meningitis, and that really impacted me, so at 66, I had to retire for medical reasons. I went to Redemptoris Mater as a chaplain and spiritual director for the seminarians until 2020, when I was moved to Prophet Elijah House during COVID. I’m still on the faculty and staff at St. John Vianney Seminary as a spiritual director and chaplain.

Also, while I was at Queen of Peace, a professor from Regis University and I helped people go through the Ignatian exercises, which profoundly impacted the parish. Over the years, I saw a departure from the faith, and Archbishop Chaput invited the Neocatechumenal Way into the parish while I was at Sacred Heart in Boulder. That was very impactful for my ministry.

3. Do you have any advice for young men or women discerning a vocation to the priesthood or religious life?

When I was young, it was natural. The culture was Catholic, particularly in New Jersey. I’ve seen our culture fall away to relativism and wokeism. So, I would say to cultivate a relationship with a personal God. You have to be brave and willing to be different.

Father Tom Coyte

1. How did you come to discern your vocation to the priesthood?

I went to St. Joseph Grade School in Fort Collins, and in 8th grade, we all did a vocation essay. I think I was the only boy who did not write about the priesthood. Then, I went to college at Notre Dame for pre-dentistry. During school, they had perpetual adoration, which is where my faith really grew and became personal. After a year at Notre Dame, I went to a Cursillo retreat and then to St. Thomas Seminary in Denver with Father Fox and Monsignor Bernie.

2. What have the last 50 years of priesthood looked like?

They’ve gone by very fast; I’ll tell you that. I’m not one who ever had doubts or was tempted to quit. I’ve always enjoyed being a priest. My focus from second theology was working with the deaf. Bishop Casey asked if someone was interested, so I started taking sign language classes. I have worked with the deaf community throughout my priesthood. My second parish was Holy Cross in Thornton, and I stayed for 25 years. My last assignment was St. Bernadette in Lakewood and the deaf moved with me, and that’s their home now.

3. Do you have any advice for young men or women discerning a vocation to the priesthood or religious life?

I have never doubted and have thoroughly enjoyed these 50 years. It’s a full and happy life with lots of wonderful opportunities. My advice would be to keep an open mind.

 

Father James Fox

1. How did you come to discern your vocation to the priesthood?

I grew up in Rapid City, South Dakota, and the monsignor who ran our parish closed the kitchen on Saturday and Sunday. So, the parochial vicars had to go searching for food. Well, my mom was a wonderful cook, so periodically, the priests would come over, specifically for my mom’s chocolate cake.

In the process of doing that, I met Monsignor William O’Connell, and something about his dynamism, energy and passion for his vocation really got my attention. I was also trained by Benedictine Sisters during elementary school, and occasionally, they would tell me, “You ought to think about being a priest.” I didn’t want to, but obviously, they planted some seeds.

Then, in college, I found myself listening to my friends’ problems, and as a result, I began thinking about redirecting my choice from studying pharmacy to becoming a priest.

2. What have the last 50 years of priesthood looked like?

Well, one outstanding thing is that I never think of this in individual terms: my work, my successes, what I’ve done. I’ve been uniquely blessed in all the parishes that I’ve served to work with both lay and religious individuals.

Thinking about the last 50 years, it really has been a journey in companionship to help make our parishes life-giving and nourishing for the faithful. It’s not really my journey, but the journey of all those with whom I have worked. I feel nothing but gratitude for the opportunities I’ve had.

I’d like to express my gratitude to the brothers I’ve served with. Father Tom, Father Bill and Monsignor Bernie have all been so remarkably supportive on this journey. We’ve laughed and cried together, and I’ve been blessed to have their friendship.

3. Do you have any advice for young men or women discerning a vocation to the priesthood or religious life?

The vocation to the priesthood or religious life always seems overwhelming. But as a vocation, it is an opportunity to serve in love with others. If you open yourself to serve, even amid work, you’ll know abundant blessings.

Monsignor Bernie Schmitz

1. How did you come to discern your vocation to the priesthood?

I first started thinking about priesthood when I was in grade school, but I put it off because, at that time, Mass was all in Latin, and I basically failed altar server training because I had a hard time learning my Latin. But then, in about 8th grade, the parish would invite missionary priests to the classrooms, and I became enamored with the idea of becoming a missionary. I’m sure it had more to do with going on an adventure throughout the world than evangelizing, but I was obsessed.

I am the oldest of seven children, and I applied to go to the Columban Fathers seminary in New York. However, my mother put her foot down and said I was not going to travel across the country at 13 to go to school in New York. So, the idea of becoming a priest went to the background.

Then, I went to Western State College for a year, and down there, I met a young priest. I had never met someone young who had been ordained, and he had an influence on me. At that time, all the protests were going on about the Vietnam War, and I had this desire to be of service somehow. I decided to apply to seminary and entered St. Thomas Seminary in 1967.

2. What have the last 50 years of priesthood looked like?

It’s had its ups and downs, as anyone in a vocational life would know. The Lord has been peeling away at me, slowly, layer by layer. I became very involved in Marriage Encounter for about 11 years, which was a pivotal point in my life. But there have also been disappointments and potholes along the way – times when things didn’t work out the way I wanted them to or people walking away from the Church.

A key experience in my life was also when I went to Colombia to serve after being ordained for about 15 years. At that time, the Archdiocese had a mission co-op with Monteria, Colombia, so they sent priests, lay people and religious down to work in parishes there. I was a pastor in a parish, struggling with Spanish and trying to survive.

I was there for seven years and wouldn’t trade it for anything. The people there suffered terribly, but they were resilient and taught me so much. If I were going to point to a lynchpin of my ministry, it’s the holiness of the people and their hunger to know God.

3. Do you have any advice for young men or women discerning a vocation to the priesthood or religious life?

Not to ignore it, first of all. Don’t pretend that it will go away, because it won’t. The world is different than when I was ordained. We live in a world where technology can be of great assistance, but it can give us the illusion that we don’t need God. When you’re a priest or religious, people invite you into the inner part of their lives. You’re invited to the brokenness and joys of people’s lives in a way that can’t be repeated with other vocations.

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Join us in honoring our priests’ lifetime of devotion by supporting them through the Retired Priest Appeal today. Your gift ensures these men of faith can spend their retirement in peace and comfort, surrounded by a loving community.

For more information about supporting our retired priests, visit archden.org/retiredpriests or call 303-867-0614 to make a difference.