Newly-ordained Fr. Conrad Jaconette closes his eyes during the Eucharistic Prayer at his May 31 Mass of Ordination to the Sacred Order of the Priesthood at St. Stephen Cathedral. RILEY GREIF | WKC
With music and prayer, diocese celebrates newest priest
Fr. Jaconette to serve in western Kentucky before military chaplaincy
BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC
At the conclusion of the Mass of Ordination to the Sacred Order of Priesthood for Fr. Conrad Jaconette on May 31, Bishop William F. Medley addressed the new priest’s family.
“His faith was born and nurtured within your household, within your faith,” said the bishop to the Jaconette family, who came from northern Kentucky for their son and brother’s ordination. “First of all, I thank God; secondly, I thank you.”
The sunny Saturday morning saw St. Stephen Cathedral at standing-room-only for Fr. Jaconette’s ordination, held at the mother church of the Diocese of Owensboro.
With music led by a choir of voices from around the diocese, including members of the choir at St. Joseph Parish in Bowling Green – Fr. Jaconette’s home parish – the faithful sang and prayed together for their new priest.
During the May 31 ordination Mass at St. Stephen Cathedral in Owensboro, Dcn. Conrad Jaconette lies prostrate while the faithful sing the Litany of the Saints. ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD | WKC
The Mass readings, selected by Fr. Jaconette, included passages from Isaiah 61 (“The spirit of the Lord God is upon me…”), Hebrews 5 (“Every high priest is taken from among men and made their representative before God…”), and John 21, in which Christ asks St. Peter “do you love me?” and calls the Church’s first pope to “feed my sheep.”
The Mass was presided over by Bishop Medley and concelebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Gregg M. Caggianelli of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, since Fr. Jaconette’s seminary education was co-sponsored by both the Owensboro diocese and the military archdiocese.
As part of the agreement between the diocese and the archdiocese, Fr. Jaconette will serve for several years in the Diocese of Owensboro. Following that period of time, he will be on loan to the military archdiocese for a set number of years to serve as a military chaplain.
On June 10, Fr. Jaconette begins his first assignment as parochial vicar of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Hopkinsville.
Bishop William F. Medley ordains Dcn. Conrad Jaconette to the priesthood through the laying on of hands on May 31, 2025 at St. Stephen Cathedral. RILEY GREIF | WKC
The choir sings during the May 31, 2025 Mass of Ordination to the Sacred Order of Priesthood for Fr. Conrad Jaconette at St. Stephen Cathedral. RILEY GREIF | WKC
Fr. Conrad Jaconette lifts his eyes heavenward during the May 31, 2025, Mass in which he was ordained to the priesthood at St. Stephen Cathedral. RILEY GREIF | WKC
Fr. Conrad Jaconette’s cufflinks, depicting the coat of arms for the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA, are seen as he gives a blessing after his Mass of Ordination on May 31, 2025. Fr. Jaconette was co-sponsored by both the Diocese of Owensboro and the military archdiocese. ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD | WKC
