Seminarian Conrad Jaconette lies prostrate on the floor of St. Stephen Cathedral as the Litany of the Saints is sung during his Mass of Ordination to the Diaconate on Jan. 4, 2025. ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD | WKC
Jaconette ordained to transitional diaconate, looks forward to journeying ‘with the people’ as he continues on vocational path
BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC
On a cold Jan. 4 morning at St. Stephen Cathedral in Owensboro, seminarian Conrad Jaconette was ordained to the transitional diaconate by Bishop William F. Medley.
The principal concelebrant was Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, U.S.A., since Dcn. Jaconette is cosponsored by both that archdiocese and the Diocese of Owensboro.
After he is ordained to the priesthood, Dcn. 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.
Soon-to-be Dcn. Conrad Jaconette smiles as clergy give their affirmation for him via applause after he is called and presented to Bishop William F. Medley during the Jan. 4, 2025 Mass of Ordination to the Diaconate. ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD | WKC
Dcn. Jaconette is set to be ordained to the priesthood on May 31, 2025 at the cathedral.
In his homily during the ordination Mass, Bishop Medley spoke of the Church’s celebrating a jubilee, or holy year, of hope, in 2025. Observances of holy years include passing through holy doors, and Bishop Medley challenged Dcn. Jaconette to “seek out” other “doors” in society by bringing God to the marginalized.
“You, my brother, my son, are called to do your part in saving souls,” said the bishop.
A few days after his ordination Mass, Dcn. Jaconette shared a few thoughts with The Western Kentucky Catholic.
Bishop William F. Medley (left) and Archbishop Timothy P. Broglio (right) smile for a photo with newly-ordained seminarian Dcn. Conrad Jaconette outside St. Stephen Cathedral on Jan. 4, 2025. RACHEL HALL | WKC
He is assigned to serve at St. Stephen Cathedral until his ordination to the priesthood, and said he looks forward to helping with sacramental ministry like visiting the homebound and those in the hospital, and preaching and assisting as deacon at Mass.
His ministry assignment while in seminary was to the cathedral, so he is already familiar with the community: “It allows the people to journey with you.”
Not being a native-born western Kentuckian – Dcn. Jaconette is from Alexandria, Ky., and became Catholic while a student at St. Thomas Aquinas Newman Center at Western Kentucky University – he said he has enjoyed “getting to know the diocese through its people.”
“This is my chance to foster those relationships with the people, which I will have through my entire priesthood,” said Dcn. Jaconette, who earned a bachelor of science degree in biochemistry from WKU before entering seminary.
Since his family is not Catholic, Dcn. Jaconette said a big question for them was “’Will the Diocese of Owensboro be able to love and support Conrad as much as we do?’ And being there at my ordination that day, I think they were able to see that,” he said.
Bishop William F. Medley lays hands on the head of seminarian Conrad Jaconette, symbolizes the calling down of the Holy Spirit as he is ordained to the diaconate on Jan. 4, 2025. ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD | WKC
Originally printed in the February 2025 issue of The Western Kentucky Catholic.
