We invite readers to send short stories about the ways in which their lives have been personally blessed by the life and work of priests and religious in our diocese.

Many Montanans can claim ancestors from County Cork, Ireland. Father Gregory Joseph Burke is from County Cork.

Born in 1925, he was raised in Bandon and attended Catholic schools throughout his education.

He said his family, a good home environment and teachers encouraged his vocation.

He attended St. Finnbarr’s College in Cork, studied philosophy at Mount Melleray College at the Trappists’ Monastery, and theology at St. Patrick Thurles seminary, also in Ireland. “Most of the Irish native priests who served in our diocese went to this same seminary,” he explained.

He moved to the United States and finished seminary at St. Edward’s in Kenmore, Wash., sponsored by Bishop Joseph M. Gilmore of Helena.

On May 19, 1951, Father Burke was ordained a priest of the Helena Diocese along with six other men, including Fathers Ernest Burns and Sarsfield O Sullivan, both of Butte.

He was first assigned as chaplain at the Good Shepherd Home in Helena and a teacher at Cathedral High School. He served as assistant pastor at parishes in Anaconda, Butte and Browning, and was temporary administrator in Eureka. He was pastor in Three Forks, at two Butte parishes, Deer Lodge and Bozeman.

He was dean of the Helena and Butte deaneries in the 1970s.

He served under five bishops, “each of whom has brought his own personal gifts of leadership to our diocese,” he added.

Father Burke reached senior status in 1998, but has not retired in other respects. He said he enjoys being in the outdoors and golfing. He likes to travel to Bandon, County Cork, and throughout the northwestern United States.

He became a U.S. citizen in 1953 and calls Montana home.

He said he has enjoyed priesthood in the Helena diocese, and extolled the “wonderful Catholic people who are dedicated and highly committed to their faith.”

“I’m enthusiastic about our church as we move into the new century and I highly recommend women and men to dedicate their lives as religious, priests and brothers to minister in our church,” Father Burke stated. “My priesthood has been a great joy.”


Published in The Montana Catholic, Vol. 19, No. 4, April 18, 2003.