Family, community remember the Rev. Joseph Patrick Breen and his Nashville legacy

Hundreds gathered at Christ the King Church in Nashville on Friday to remember the Rev. Joseph Patrick Breen during his funeral Mass.

"He was the most loving human being around," his sister-in-law Barbara Breen said. "I never heard him say anything negative about anybody."

The 87-year-old Catholic priest died on May 21 at his Nashville retirement home, Mary Queen of Angels.

Breen was known for community activism and at times standing at-odds with some traditional church teachings, supporting female ordination, the marriage of clergy, and LGBT issues. Breen, an Irishman and family patriarch, was most well-known for his faithful ministry to all people.

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"He was totally inclusive, he treated everybody the same way," David Williams, one of Breen's relatives, said.

Mark Williams, another of Breen's relatives, opened the service by quoting one of the priest's favorite greetings: "Hello, Father Breen speaking."

This prompted a knowing laughter from the crowd.

He pointed out a shirt on an attendee that featured one of Breen's favorite slogans: "Do your best and do what is right." This met applause from the audience.

Williams reflected on his relationship with Breen, sharing memories of time spent with him.

"Joe Pat shared that same deeply-caring relationship with so many others," Williams said. "He wanted everyone to share the joy of knowing Jesus Christ."

The Rev. Charles Strobel described Breen's sense of "divine discontent" about the state of the world.

"'Love one another as I have loved you,'" Strobel said. "Those words were evident in him."

Strong voices echoed through the church as attendees sang hymns such as "I Am the Bread of Life" and "Be Not Afraid."

Nashville Bishop J. Mark Spalding presided over the Mass.

"Let us console one another in the faith of Jesus Christ," Spalding said. "We send him in the loving and merciful arms of God."

John Calzavara said he and his family moved to Nashville in 1997 and soon found Breen's parish.

"We tried out a bunch of different parishes and we really found comfort with the Father," Calzavara said.

Calzavara studied at the church often, and Breen always offered him encouragement, he said. Calzavara said when he went on to work at the parish, the two always had a good relationship.

"He was always very generous and very kind to all of us and our family," Jacque Calzavara, John Calzavara's wife, said.

JoAnn Thombs, Breen's oldest niece in the Nashville area, said she and her husband helped take care of him and make medical and caretaking decisions during the final years.

"He finally got to say his last Mass," Thombs said. "It was an honor to see him, his courage, his commitment to his faith."

Breen was born in Nashville on March 28, 1935. He graduated from Father Ryan High School in 1954, and went on to earn a bachelor's degree from St. Ambrose College in Davenport, Iowa. Breen completed his studies in Rome at both North American College and Gregorian University.

His late brother, the Rev. Philip Breen, who died in 2015, was similarly a well-known priest and community leader.

Barbara Breen said Joseph Breen was popular when the two attended high school together.

"He was a senior when I was a freshman," she said. "All these girls were heartbroken when he went into the priesthood."

Breen first began his ministry in Memphis, where he worked as an associate pastor at Holy Rosary Parish. Throughout his career in ministry, he preached and taught high school in various locations throughout the region. Breen's last assignment was St. Edward Parish in Nashville, where he served for 30 years until his 2014 retirement.

"He had an unlimited capacity to love and connect with people to make each one of them feel special and unique," Mark Williams said. "What are the three things that everybody should be focused on in their lives? Faith, family and friends."

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Father Joseph Patrick Breen remembered at funeral Mass in Nashville