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.

By Karina Fabian

It was in college and while acting as a chauffeur that Father Joseph Oblinger first felt a serious calling to the priesthood.

“We were celebrating the 100th anniversary of the coming of the Jesuits to the Bitterroot Valley. I was chauffeuring a young seminarian, and talking with him brought back thoughts of joining the priesthood,” said Father Oblinger, who is enjoying his 58th year as a priest.

He had majored in chemistry at the University of Montana, and the jump from that to philosophy was a big one, he said. Nonetheless, he graduated from Carroll College, then completed the seminary in Seattle, Wash., in three years because the country was embroiled in World War II and the seminary was pushing to graduate priests quickly so older priests would be freed up to care for the troops.

Father Oblinger returned to Montana, where he was asked to help out a “few days” at the Chancery. Five years later, he had made a new chancery office, and served as chancellor for three years. He then moved to St. Anne’s in Butte as assistant pastor for five years, then was the pastor at St. John the Baptist in Frenchtown, caring for it and the flock of missions it sponsored until 1960, when he was invited back to the Chancery.

He spent the next 17 years at the chancery, helping to install his classmate, Father Raymond Hunthausen, as bishop – “who immediately went sailing off to the Vatican Council,” Father Oblinger concluded.

In addition to helping keep the diocese running smoothly in Bishop Hunthausen’s absence, Father Oblinger was chaplain at the Good Shepherd home, where he lived, was pastor of St. Helena Cathedral, vicar general, and helped close several Catholic schools. He also chaired the office of Pastoral Planning, was the liaison for Catholic Charismatic Renewal, and director of the Guatemala missions. “The basement of my home at the time looked like a pharmacy, with all the pills and medicines we were collecting to send,” he said.

When Bishop Hunthausen moved to Seattle, Father Oblinger became diocesan administrator for 14 months, after which, he directed retreats for a year while searching for suitable property to build a retreat house. They finally settled on land near Anaconda, and he remained director of Christhaven for 14 years.

In 1990, he retired at age 70, but is still active. He celebrated Mass at Big Sky, often to a handful of locals and tourists. In 1996, he offered to take the Sunday Masses “no one wanted” in West Yellowstone – and ended up taking them all, combining them with the Big Sky mission. “Now there are over 100 people at Mass every Sunday—a big change from the nine or 10 at Big Sky.”

It was on another car ride – this time as the passenger – that he was inspired to a new calling – writing. When he shared stories of his vocation, his friend suggested he write his autobiography. He plans to call his book “Fisher of Men,” and hopes it will convey his love for the Church and his role in it.

“I love the Church. As I look back on my life, the best part has been my ministry to men. Helena Diocese is a vibrant diocese, full of strength and virtue. It’s a great place to be a priest.”


Published in The Montana Catholic, Vol. 21, No. 3, March 18, 2005.