Jubilarians devote 275 years to the Church

Priest jubilarians in the Diocese of Helena this year include an Irish immigrant, three from Butte and one from Anaconda. Together, they have devoted 275 years of service to the Church.

The Irishman is Father Gregory J. Burke, who was born in Bandon, County Cork, and educated there through Mount Melleray College. He moved to the United States and completed his theology training at St. Edward’s Seminary in Seattle. He was ordained May 19, 1951, along with two classmates, Fathers Ernest F. Burns and Sarsfield O Sullivan, all for the Helena Diocese. They celebrated their 55th anniversaries in Butte several weeks ago.

Father Burke’s first assignment was a dual one, as chaplain at the Good Shepherd Home in Helena and a faculty member at Cathedral High School. Other assignments took him to Anaconda, Butte, Browning and Eureka. He served as pastor in Three Forks, two Butte parishes, Deer Lodge and Bozeman. He reached senior status in 1998 but didn’t retire completely. He has provided priestly ministry for several churches and served as a chaplain at St. James Hospital in Butte.

Father Burns, one of the Butte Americans, attended Carroll College then studied philosophy and theology at St. Edward’s Seminary. He was assistant pastor in Bozeman and Missoula, then was appointed pastor in Frenchtown, Laurin, Butte and Polson, and was coordinator in Bozeman. He also served as dean of the Helena and Butte deaneries. He was granted senior status in 1991 and retired that year.

Also from Butte is Father O Sullivan, who attended St. Edward’s Seminary. His first assignments were as assistant pastor at Anaconda and Butte parishes. Then he was appointed pastor for Thompson Falls, Bonner, Walkerville, Whitehall and Twin Bridges parishes. He also was administrator for St. Mary Parish, Butte, with duties at St. Lawrence. In 1994, he retired and received senior status.

Monsignor Joseph D. Harrington is the third from Butte. But for college and seminary education, he went to Carroll College and St. Thomas Seminary in Denver. He was ordained May 19, 1956, and celebrated his 50th anniversary June 4 at St. John’s Parish in Butte. His first assignment was as a summer substitute at Carroll. He has been there ever since, except for two stints at Catholic University of America for graduate studies. He taught at the diocesan college and served as its president between 1969 and 1974. In addition, he served three five-year terms as episcopal vicar for Carroll, starting in 1978. He retired in 2000 and received a singular honor that summer – a papal appointment as Prelate of Honor, which includes the title Monsignor. But some say he still likes to be called “Father Joe.”

The Anaconda native celebrating his 60th anniversary of ordination to the priesthood is Archbishop Raymond G. Hunthausen. He grew up in Anaconda, attended Catholic schools and went on to Carroll College. After being ordained, he taught academic classes, coached the football team and served as the college president. In 1962, he became the first Montana native to be appointed Bishop of Helena. He was one of the youngest bishops at the Second Vatican Council, and now is one of a handful of bishops from the council still living. Among his accomplishments was founding the diocese’s mission in Guatemala. In 1975, he was appointed Archbishop of Seattle – the first of three Montana bishops to serve in that position. He retired in 1991.

To commemorate his 60th jubilee, Archbishop Hunthausen celebrated Mass on June 2 at Ss. Cyril and Methodius Parish in East Helena. Bishop George Leo Thomas – whom the archbishop confirmed and ordained a priest – was present in the sanctuary, along with his brother, Father John Hunthausen, Father Tom O’Donnell, the pastor, and Father John Robertson, diocesan chancellor.

Published in The Montana Catholic, Vol. 22, No. 6, June 16, 2006.