Rev. Joseph Jacobi

Father Joseph Andrew Jacobi, the former pastor of Holy Spirt Catholic Church in Mustang, died Sept. 22 at Mercy Hospital after a courageous battle with brain cancer. He was 61.

The vigil will be held at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 6 at Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Mustang. The Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Oct. 7 at the Blessed Stanley Rother Shrine in Oklahoma City with Archbishop Paul S. Coakley serving as principal celebrant. Interment will follow at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cemetery in Sterling.

Father Jacobi was diagnosed in April 2023 with an aggressive form of brain cancer. Given a dire prognosis, he nonetheless battled, with treatment and his strong will resulting in a rally against the disease, highlighted by his walking the Camino de Santiago last October and vacationing with family in Hawaii in March. The disease, however, roared back, leading to him entering hospice care in late September.

Known for his quiet strength and dry wit, Father Jacobi was a well-respected and beloved pastor whose gentleness and compassion endeared him to many parishioners and clergy across the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City and elsewhere.

He was a Renaissance man who led the building of two new churches. He loved sports, the symphony and enjoying the beauty of nature. Despite his admitted clumsiness, he was a competitive participant in golf, bowling, football, basketball, baseball and other sports.

As a priest, he had a shepherd’s heart, always supporting those who were struggling and reassuring them of God’s love. Even in his illness, his focus was on others.

Father Jacobi was born in Lawton on Nov. 20, 1963, and grew up in Lone Grove near Ardmore. He was the son of Andrew John and Mary Veronica (McMahon) Jacobi. He is survived by his brother David and wife Stacy, his sister Maureen and husband Jay Clark, and brother Martin and partner Amy. Father Jacobi’s twin sister Anne Mary died in 1969 of leukemia.

He also is survived by four nieces, Lauren Mines and husband Patrick and their children Andrew, Elodie and Gabriel; Rachel Lewis and husband Will and their daughter Ruby; Caroline Jacobi; and Katie Clark.

In 1982, Father Jacobi attended Southeastern Oklahoma State University for two years and then entered Conception Seminary College where he earned a bachelor’s degree in social sciences. In 1989, he earned a master’s degree in theology from The Catholic University of America.

On June 1, 1991, Father Jacobi was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Charles Salatka at The Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Oklahoma City.

He served as an associate pastor at Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church in Edmond and at Saint Peter Catholic Church in Guymon as well as its missions – Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Boise City and Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Hooker.

He served as pastor at Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Altus and its mission Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Hollis, Saint Eugene Catholic Church in Oklahoma City and Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Mustang.

He also served as chaplain at Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School, the University of Central Oklahoma and Altus Air Force Base. He served the diocese as the Vicar for Hispanic Ministry, Vicar for Region V, Spiritual Director for Cursillo, as a member of the Presbyteral Council, and a member of the Archdiocesan Review Board.

Father Jacobi requested that in lieu of flowers, memorial gifts be given to the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul, the Holy Spirit Catholic Church building fund, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City or the Glioblastoma Research Organization.