Fr. Neely Ordained at Cathedral

July 6, 2012
Tennessee Register 1
July 6, 2012
| A Voice of Tennessee Catholic Life since 1937 | www.dioceseofnashville.com
Diaconate offers
another avenue
of service
to the church
Andy Telli
A
t the Second Vatican Council, the church
reached back for some ancient practices to
help it engage with the modern world. One
of those ancient practices was the permanent diaconate.
In the Diocese of Nashville, it didn’t take long for
several men to inquire about being ordained permanent deacons, and on April 26, 1975, the first
class of deacons in Nashville was ordained.
Since the first class of 14 men was ordained,
deacons have become fixtures at the altar assisting the priests during the Mass and in a host of
ministries inside and outside the parish, baptizing babies, marrying couples, burying the dead,
preaching, teaching, visiting the sick and the
incarcerated.
“I think it’s more important than ever before,”
said Deacon Ken Steinbrecher, who was in the
first class of permanent deacons ordained in Nashville, and continues to be active in ministry at Holy
Rosary Church in Donelson 37 years later.
Ministr y of ser vice
The permanent diaconate is one of three orders
of ordained clergy in the church, along with bishops and priests. It traces its roots to the earliest
days of the church. According to the Acts of the
Apostles, the apostles called on the community to
select “seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit
and wisdom,” to help take care of the people so
the apostles could devote themselves “to prayer
and to the ministry of the word.”
The diaconate declined in the Middle Ages as
priests took over the duties of deacons. But after
Vatican II, Pope Paul VI restored the permanent
diaconate.
The documents of Vatican II envisioned that
Continued on page 13
Photo by Theresa Laurence
Sweet anointing
Bishop David Choby clasps the hands of Father Jayd Neely during Father Neely’s ordination to the
priesthood at the Cathedral of the Incarnation on June 28. Father Neely will serve as associate pastor
at the Cathedral. See story and more photos on page 2.
Register wins 6 awards in Catholic Press contest … page 10 | Catholic Charities to mark 50th anniversary … page 22
2 Tennessee Register
July 6, 2012
Father Neely’s ordination full of ‘powerful moments’
Theresa Laurence
T
he Cathedral of the Incarnation
was packed June 28 with priests,
deacons, parishioners, family and
friends to celebrate the ordination of
Father Jayd Neely as the Diocese of
Nashville’s newest priest.
For Father Neely, the ordination
brought “a great deal of peace and joy.”
Lying prostrate on the floor in front of
the altar and having his hands anointed
by Bishop David Choby during the
ceremony “were powerful moments,”
he said.
Father Neely, who served Cathedral
as a deacon for two years before his
ordination, and will continue there as
associate pastor, said that experiencing
the ordination at his home parish was
“very meaningful.”
“A lot of people told me they don’t
normally go to ordinations but they
came because they knew me,” he said.
Cathedral parishioner Kathy Bulso
said she has already witnessed Father
Neely’s impact on the parish. “There’s
more reverence on the altar,” she said.
“I think he will take being a priest
seriously and bring a lot of souls to
heaven,” said Bulso, who first met
Father Neely through her son Andy
Bulso, a diocesan seminarian currently
studying in Rome.
Father Neely, who is originally from
Oklahoma City, had a number of family
members and friends travel to Nashville for the ordination, including his
mother and 90-year-old grandfather,
who are not Catholic.
“It’s good to see him so happy and
fulfilled,” said Father Neely’s mother,
Deb Walls. “All of us are rejoicing that
he made it to this day.”
Father Neely traveled a long and
winding road to the priesthood. He
converted to the Catholic faith in college and spent time in the seminary for
Photos by Theresa Laurence
Father Jayd Neely lies prostrate in front of the altar during his ordination at the Cathedral of the Incarnation on June 28.
both his home diocese of Oklahoma
City and for the Discalced Carmelite
order.
When he was studying with the Carmelites, he was sent to Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans, where he met some
seminarians from the Diocese of Nashville. After meeting with Bishop Choby,
Father Neely decided that becoming a
priest for the Diocese of Nashville would
be a better fit for him.
In 2009, he was ordained a transi-
tional deacon for the diocese, and on
track to be ordained a priest the next
year. But he decided he wasn’t ready
and needed time to further discern his
vocation with a more extended period
as a deacon.
Over the last two years at the Cathedral, Father Neely gained extensive
experience with pastoral duties and
gained confidence in his vocation.
Father Neely’s mother, was thankful
that Bishop Choby welcomed him as a
seminarian and encouraged him without pushing. “He’s really comfortable
in Nashville,” she said of her son.
Father Neely is also comfortable at
Cathedral, which has been his home
base for the past two years. “It’s not
completely brand new. The transition
has been easier,” he said.
While saying Mass is still new and “a
little surreal,” Father Neely is adjusting to his new sacramental role. “I really do enjoy it,” he said. 
In photo at left, Father Jerry Strange lays his hands on the newly ordained Father Jayd Neely during Father Neely’s ordination at the Cathedral on June 28.
Father Neely and Father Strange studied together at Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans. In photo at right, Father Jayd Neely blesses five-month-old Luisa
Austin, held by her mother Alexis Austin, at the reception following his ordination. Alexis’ husband, Tommy Austin, is one of Father Neely’s closest friends
from his hometown of Oklahoma City.