Hundreds unite to pray for Fr. Joseph Jacobi

As Father Joseph Jacobi processed toward the altar to open the prayer service organized for him, the hymn “How Can I Keep from Singing” rose from the background.

An apt selection, considering Father Jacobi has been heard many times telling his congregation, “Joy comes from God.” And despite an ongoing battle with glioblastoma, a rare and terminal form of brain cancer, the beloved priest has maintained not only inspiring faithfulness, but also a joyous demeanor.

April 10 marked the second prayer service for Father Jacobi, this one at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Mustang, one of five parishes he’s served. “Death is not final” was the theme of the prayer service, since physical death makes way for eternal life.

Centered around the Paschal Mystery, Father Will Banowsky, current pastor of Holy Spirit, reminded attendees that when we pray, we are united not only physically on earth but with the reality that Christ’s Holy Church transcends space and time.

“We are a church of the living,” he said. “We are called to eternal life.”

Our hearts and minds are heavy, Father Will added.

Those gathered offered prayers and comfort with fellow Blessed Stanley Rother for Father Jacobi. Since the initial diagnosis, many have asked Blessed Stanley to intercede for a miracle healing for Father Jacobi.

“We also rest our hope in the Paschal reality,” said Father Will, “that the priest, the man, the brother that we come to pray for, we are gathered here today for, who has been a constant example of holiness, of virtue and grace, of who we should be as followers of Christ, that he will not see death.

“We unite our prayers with the Church Triumphant, cry out that he may see and hear our prayers, and answer them according to his will. The love we have for our spiritual father and the grace given to us through the beauty of the Resurrection.”
 
Prior to the prayer service, Archbishop Coakley administered the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick to Fr. Jacobi. Then one by one, hundreds of his parishioners from churches across the archdiocese gently laid their hands on Fr. Jacobi’s shoulders, taking a moment to offer a personal prayer over their beloved friend and priest.
 
After the intimate time of prayer, Father Jacobi stood before his beloved friends gathered, offering them a final blessing, “May Christ draw you deeper into the mystery of his love as we pray, in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit …,” he said.

“We don’t want it to end because we’re hopeful things can happen,” said a parishioner from Saint Eugene Catholic Church.

Following the prayer service, many gathered for a reception in the family life center.

“What’s really moving is to see it’s not just a church that comes together, but all the lives he’s touched over his pastoral duties. It’s just beautiful,” said another parishioner from Saint Eugene.

“He is an epitome for the shepherd for the flock of God,” said Joe Equigua-Garcia, a parishioner from Holy Spirit. “You can see by the outpouring of love that people think so much of him. He is unique, and we think he’s one-of-a-kind.”

Equigua-Garcia said he prays every morning: “Lord, I know I’m being selfish, and we know your will we must accept, but what can we say, your will be done, but we hope we get our prayers answered.”

Pierina Mitchum recalled the role Father Jacobi played in her life when she was young.

“He was a very important person in my life. I first came here when I immigrated to the United States when I was in fifth grade and didn’t know English. He helped me get into Saint Eugene,” she said.

Father Jacobi helped Mitchum and her family enter the Catholic faith in addition to securing the necessary resources her family needed. Pierina secured enough scholarships to attend Saint Eugene Catholic School, followed by Bishop McGuiness Catholic High School. 

“If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t be where I am today,” she said. “That represents his heart for loving people without boundaries.”

Eliana Tedrow is a freelance writer for the Sooner Catholic.

Photo: (above) Fr. Joseph Jacobi greeted people at his prayer service on April 11 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Mustang. Photos Eliana Tedrow/Sooner Catholic.