More than 400 Catholics packed into the Cathedral of St. Andrew in Little Rock May 31 to witness one of the most important events in any diocese — the ordination of a seminarian to the priesthood.
Father Joel Brackett, the first priest ordained from St. Vincent de Paul Church in Rogers, was ordained by Bishop Anthony B. Taylor after a long faith journey. He was the 50th diocesan priest ordained by the bishop since he arrived in Arkansas in 2008.
Father Brackett, 27, struggled in his faith as a young Catholic playing football at Hendrix College. He and Duwan Booker, who was Protestant, became close friends as they began to research Christianity and religious history. Booker eventually joined the Church.
The conversion led Father Brackett to discern a call to the priesthood, and Booker did the same. Booker will be ordained a priest in 2026.
Father Brackett said he has been eager to put the knowledge he learned at the seminary to good use.
“If I’m honest, I feel a bunch of different things right now: gratitude for the gift of my life and vocation, excitement for everything that’s to come, awe before the great mystery of Christ’s priesthood and even fear in the face of the impossibility of the task,” he said before his ordination. “One moment, I feel one thing, and the next moment, another. But all I can do is show up, give myself over totally to God and receive the gift of his priesthood. It is ultimately something that will be done to me, something that I will be taken up into, regardless of whatever I’m feeling Saturday morning. I believe he has called me, and after some seven years of preparation, I am ready to follow him for the rest of my life.”
Father Brackett’s mother, Kristi, said she was “excited, nervous and very blessed” before the ordination.
“We are so excited to witness our child officially answer this call. We are nervous because I think any time a parent watches their child make a lifetime commitment, they feel emotional and nervous for them. But most of all, we feel unworthy and blessed to have been put on this journey with … Joel as he discerned this powerful call from God,” she said. “As for how our feelings have changed throughout the process, we were very scared at first and had so many questions. We have watched him mature and grow in knowledge, faith and holiness so much since he took the first step seven years ago. The faith of our family has changed and grown so much through this process. It has opened a world we didn’t know existed of history and true discipleship. It has truly become the center of who we are as a family.”
During his homily, Bishop Taylor spoke to Father Brackett about the importance of accepting the role that St. Peter did from Jesus — of tending to his sheep.
“In the Gospel chosen for your ordination, Jesus asked Peter three times whether he loves him, and Peter says, yes he does. And Jesus replies, ‘Well then, tend my sheep.’ Which is how Peter will show that his love is endless — not just a matter of words,” he said. “Well, today I have the great honor of naming you to take your place in the care of Jesus’ flock … to this call, you have responded with commitment, courage and love.”
Following the homily, Father Brackett lay prostrate in front of the altar throughout the litany of the saints before Bishop Taylor’s laying on of hands. After putting on his priestly vestments, Father Brackett was hugged by more than 40 priests across the diocese.
Jennifer Tucker, president of vocations for the Serra Club, a lay organization that prays for seminarians and helps with vocations-related events, said it was exciting to witness such an important event.
“The ordination of Father Joel is a profound reminder of God’s enduring call to the priesthood. As Serrans, we rejoice in witnessing the fruits of prayer and encouragement of vocations,” she said. “Father Joel’s ‘yes’ affirms the mission of the Serra Club — to foster, affirm and support vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life. His journey inspires us to continue our mission with renewed hope and dedication.”
A week after his ordination, Father Brackett told Arkansas Catholic he is adjusting to his new vocation.
“It still doesn’t totally feel real that I’m a priest, but there have been those moments when I am reminded of the change that has occurred, and it shocks me — when someone calls me ‘Father,’ when I put on the priestly stole for Mass, when I celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation, when I say the words of consecration,” he said. “But every day it’s starting to feel a bit more true, a bit more of a ‘given’ in my life — just like I know that my name is Joel and that I have two hands and two feet — I am a priest!
“Although the ordination is to me something of a blur, kind of like a distant dream, I nonetheless know that it happened, and I know that I am different for it having happened. I am a priest — and that’s crazy to say.”
Father Brackett’s first assignment will be as associate pastor of St. Edward Church in Texarkana and in missions in Foreman and Ashdown beginning June 18.
