Denver Catholic

23 1 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 fin- ished 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 When I came here, I was assigned to St. Mary Mag- dalene 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 spiri- tual 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 exer- cises, which profoundly impacted the parish. Over the years, I saw a depar- ture from the faith, and Arch- bishop Chaput invited the Neocatechumenal Way into the parish while I was at Sacred Heart in Boulder. That was very impactful for my ministry. 3 It's harder to believe now. When I was young, it was natural. The culture was Catho- lic, particularly in New Jersey. I've seen our culture fall away to relativism and wokeism. So, I would say to cultivate a relation- ship with a personal God. You have to be brave and willing to be different. ⊲ Father Bill Breslin 4 PRIESTS, 200 YEARS OF PRIESTHOOD 23 DENVER CATHOLIC | AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 2024

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