Greg Dues has written Catholic Customs & Traditions, a popular guide (New London: Twenty Third Publications, 2007). On page 166 he states, "Priesthood as we know it in the Catholic church was unheard of during the first generation of Christianity, because at that time priesthood was still associated with animal sacrifices in both the Jewish and pagan religions."
"A clearly defined local leadership in the form of elders, or presbyteroi, became still more important when the original apostles and disciples of Jesus died. The chief elder in each community was often called the episkopos (Greek, 'overseer'). In English this came to be translated as 'bishop' (Latin, episcopus). Ordinarily he presided over the community's Eucharistic assembly."
"When the Eucharist came to be regarded as a sacrifice, the role of the bishop took on a priestly dimension. By the third century bishops were considered priests. Presbyters or elders sometimes substituted for the bishop at the Eucharist. By the end of the third century people all over were using the title 'priest' (hierus in Greek and sacerdos in Latin) for whoever presided at the Eucharist."
Yep, a new, modern made up idea. ALL of the Apostolic Churches, those in union with Rome and those not have a Sacramental Priesthood. The Copts, the Orthodox, even the Malabar Catholic Church founded by the Apostle Thomas. Even after most of a thousand year separation they held to the faith and the Apostolic traditions.
That you and a small splintered group disagree (and yes splintered, unable to agree on baptism, on what day the Sabbath is, on whether Christmas is pagan or holy) is of little moment. The facts are that you represent a modernist and small faction that is without substance or standing.
In fact, many of you here are even unwilling to be honest about what sect of the protestant heresies you adhere to, in fear that your divisions will become all too clear. Thus you end up allied with the UFO types, the LDS types, the folks who deny the Trinity, even those who deny the Divinity of Christ. An odd coalition, held together apparently only by a common antipathy to the Catholic faith, an antipathy all to often soaking in falsehoods, bigotry and anger.
You might try being honest about what your faith traditions are and you might embrace the very Christian ideas of honesty, charity and humility. I hope you do.