Father Rudy Breunig, former pastor of Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Bainbridge, was honored Friday with a golden jubilee covered dish reception in honor of his 50th year as a priest. 

The reception, held in the parish hall, was hosted by Saint Joseph’s pastor, Father Dave Hamm.

Father Breunig, who was ordained June 1, 1965, in Winchester, Virginia, celebrated his jubilee Mass Sunday, June 7, at Saint Norbert Catholic Church, his home parish in Roxbury, Wisconsin.

After graduating from Saint Norbert School and St. Francis High School Seminary in Milwaukee, Father Breunig joined the family of priests, brothers, sisters and lay members dedicated to the development of the poor and abandoned.

While serving as pastor of Saint Joseph’s, Father Breunig also served Saint Elisabeth Ann Seton Parish in Cairo and Incarnation Church in Donalsonville.

Father Breunig served a 12-year mission tour of a remote jungle area of Costa Rica, which included some 30 villages and mission stations in a mountainous rain forest.

Father Breunig described his 50 years as missionary priest, including his time as a missionary pastor in Bainbridge, Cairo and Donalsonville as a blessed adventure.”

“I must be the luckiest guy in the whole outfit for the great variety of missionary experiences I have had,” he said.  “Now I want to go back to my roots and celebrate a big thanksgiving with my family in Wisconsin and my old friends in Bainbridge, Cairo and Donalsonville.”