Father Jacob Christian Gwynn (Right(, courtesy of Father Peter Jutras
Father Jacob Christian Gwynn, LT, USNR, was ordained to the priesthood July 12 in Venice, Florida, where he will minister for five years before beginning pastoral service for the US military.
Fr. Gwynn is a priest of the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA (AMS), which ministers to people serving in the armed forces as well as their families.
Bishop Frank Dewane of the Diocese of Venice ordained Fr. Gwynn during a Mass concelebrated by AMS Auxiliary Bishop Gregg Caggianelli at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Venice.
“As a child, one of my earliest aspirations was to become a priest,” Fr. Gwynn said, according to the AMS press release. As a young boy, his favorite holiday was Halloween because he could dress up like a priest, “and my sisters wouldn’t make fun of me,” he told attendees at an “Eat, Drink, and Be Catholic” event in Arlington in January.
The 27-year-old priest grew up in Palmetto, Florida. He attended Saint John Vianney College Seminary in Miami and Saint Vincent DePaul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach. Father Gwynn’s formation was made possible by a Co-Sponsored Seminarian Agreement between the AMS and the Diocese of Venice, according to the AMS press release. Because of this agreement, Fr. Gwynn will spend the first five years of his priesthood ministering to Florida parishes before becoming a chaplain and commissioned Naval officer.
Unlike most seminarians, Fr. Gwynn has spent his summers since 2021 in Navy training. He has also attended Navy Officer Development School and had chaplain basic leadership training, according to the AMS press release.
Father Gwynn joins a relatively small group of Navy priests. Only 47 priests are on active duty in the Navy with around 20 in the Reserve, and they serve more than 100,000 sailors, marines, and coast guardsmen, as well as their families. The AMS encourages any men who believe they are called to the priesthood to discern “the vocation within a vocation to serve those who serve in the U.S. military,” according to their press release. More information can be found on their vocations website.
Fr. Gwynn shared that he looks forward to beginning his service both to the people of Florida and, eventually, to the men and women of the Navy.
“My heart is still overflowing with the graces received at ordination,” he said, according to the release. “The theme that was said many times on my day of ordination continues to resound in my heart today: ‘This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad.’ (Ps 118:24). I am eternally grateful for the call to serve the Lord and His people through the ministry of the priesthood and eventually as a chaplain!”
>> Former Army musician ordained to priesthood, set to serve as military chaplain <<
