‘This is what the Lord made me to be’

Stephen Austin Jones ordained to the priesthood

As Deacon Stephen Jones processed into The Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help to be ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, his mom watched from the front row with an emotional and overwhelming sense of pride and joy.

Jones, who turns 30 in July, was ordained to the order of the priesthood by Archbishop Coakley on June 29. He was welcomed by his brother priests, with his parents, his stepmom Brenda, brother Chris, sister Kira, other family and friends, and hundreds of faithful witnessing the blessed occasion. Archbishop Emeritus Eusebius Beltran and Abbot Lawrence Stasyszen, O.S.B., concelebrated.

“The past 48 hours have been the most joyful of my life,” Father Stephen said. “It’s so abundantly clear that this is what the Lord made me to be and do with the gift of my life. I treasure his friendship more today than I could have just a few days ago. Praised be Jesus Christ, now and forever!”

Father Stephen’s parents, who also attended his diaconate ordination at Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome in September, gushed with pride.

“The ordination was spectacular. It was a culmination of many separate events where the archdiocese has supported Stephen in his journey … and prepared him for this day and his new role,” Dewayne Jones said. “It was overwhelming seeing the cathedral full of his friends, family and fellow seminarians and priests to celebrate this occasion.

“Needless to say, we are extremely proud of Stephen, and look forward to him assuming his position with his fellow priests to support the parishes in Oklahoma.” 

Karen Jones added, “I can’t say it better than Stephen’s dad did. We are just so proud of him, and it brings us great joy for him to be a priest.”

During his homily, Archbishop Coakley reminded Father Stephen that he is entering the priesthood during an apostolic time that requires strong and faithful disciples.

“Be a man of God. Be a man of prayer. It is only through prayer that you will be able to sustain and grow in that personal intimacy and friendship with Jesus Christ, who will be your source of joy and the source of your apostolic fruitfulness,” he said. “Keep always before your eyes the example of the Good Shepherd, who came not to be served but to serve.” 

Father Stephen celebrated his first Mass the next day at his home parish, Saint Monica Catholic Church in Edmond, with Father Stephen Hamilton and Archbishop Coakley. He will serve for the next month at Saint Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in Guymon and then as parochial vicar at Saint Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Oklahoma City. 

Father Jones grew up in Edmond, graduating from Edmond Memorial High School before attending Oklahoma State University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in secondary education. After being accepted to the seminarian program in 2018, he entered Kenrick-Glennon Theological Seminary in Saint Louis, Missouri, to study pre-theology and then the Pontifical North American College in Rome in 2020 to study theology. He will graduate in 2025 with a degree in dogmatic theology from the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas in Rome.

He has spent the past nine months preparing for the priesthood.

“The past few months as a deacon have been the most fruitful of my life,” he said. “The Lord has shown me time and again how He desires to work through me to make him present to his people. This was especially seen in my apostolate at the seminary in Rome.

“I’ve gotten to be a chaplain for seven different groups over the past two years. To see the faith of these students as well as to see how the Lord has worked in their lives, has edified me tremendously. They have prepared me for priestly ministry more than anything else in my time in seminary.”

As he begins his ministry and service as a priest, Father Stephen asked for prayers for him and all priests that they remain faithful to their vocation. 

“I am most excited to be an instrument of the healing that the Lord desires to pour out into the hearts of his faithful people. However the Lord wants to use me to accomplish this healing, I want to be open.”

Diane Clay is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.

Photo: Archbishop Coakley led Vespers on June 28 and celebrated Mass on June 29 for the Priesthood Ordination of Fr. Stephen Jones at The Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Oklahoma City. Photo Chris Porter/Sooner Catholic.

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