Called to preach the Gospel always:

Lexington native son Danny Taylor set to become diocese’s newest priest
 
By Robin Roenker
 
Deacon Danny Taylor’s ordination as a priest of the Catholic Diocese of Lexington was originally scheduled for the middle of May, but the COVID-19 crisis had other plans. 
 
Now set for June 13, Taylor’s ordination comes at an unusual time of social distancing — a step that, while necessary to keep parishioners safe, poses a particular challenge to those called into the ministry. 
 
“How do we minister to people when the most responsible thing we can do is stay away from them physically?” asked Taylor, 30, who began to feel called to the priesthood around the age of 19. 
 
“It’s a difficult question. Reaching out through social media, a phone call or email is part of the equation,” he said. “But I don’t think that sufficiently replaces what it means to be physically present to others. Perhaps when we return to our new normal, we will be more appreciative to God for what it means to celebrate as community.” 
 
Called outward 
 
Taylor, a graduate of Christ the King School, Lexington Catholic and the University of Kentucky, made the decision to pursue the priesthood after college, in the midst of pursuing his CPA certification and working at his family’s Taylor Made Farm in Nicholasville, a leader in Kentucky’s thoroughbred industry. 
 
“I had these plans for my future. I always thought I would work for my family’s business,” Taylor said. “But I started thinking about the priesthood and what would fulfill me. I felt God tugging on my heart every time I would attend Mass or turn on Catholic radio. I had a feeling God was leading me in that direction.” 
 
Answering the call, Taylor entered St. Meinrad Seminary in Indiana in fall 2014, graduating in May with both a master’s in Catholic philosophical studies and a master’s in divinity under his belt. 
 
Taylor’s time in seminary was a rich opportunity for growth and self-reflection. 
 
“One of the most challenging things was the process of self-acceptance, learning who God made me to be and accepting my woundedness as an offering to God,” he said.
 
A self-described introverted, quiet person, Taylor was stretched at St. Meinrad to “go out of [his] comfort zone when it came to prayer,” he said. “I like to do Lectio Divina [prayerful Scripture reading] with the Bible or pray the Rosary alone in my room. That is where I naturally feel closest to God,” said Taylor. “In seminary, however, I learned to enjoy praying in community, and I was introduced to charismatic prayer, where I really began to feel the Spirit at work.” 
 
God’s love story 
 
Taylor does not yet know where he will be assigned as a pastoral associate in the diocese. But, already, he’s made an impact on the lives of parishioners at St. Mildred Catholic Church in Somerset, where he contributed to a parish youth summer camp last year. This spring, he preached fluently during St. Mildred’s livestreamed Spanish-language Easter Mass. 
 
“Danny is great at shifting back and forth” between English and Spanish, said Father Jay VonHandorf, the pastor.
During his Easter homily, Taylor spoke in Spanish about “God’s love 
story with us, catching our attention as he mapped out the humorous ways some soap opera love stories unfold — while he explained that our love story with God leads to the joyful wedding feast depicted in Revelation,” Father VonHandorf said. “Deacon Danny has been a gift to our people.” 
 
After years of devoted study and preparation in the seminary, Taylor feels excited and ready to embark on his calling to the ministry. 
 
“I hope to become a happy and loving priest,” he said. “I think this is what it means to imitate Christ. 
 
“God has put people in my path through these six years that have taught me so much,” he added. “They’ve taught me how to be a better Christian and a better man. The many priests of our diocese have been such role models, teaching me what the true priorities of ministry should be: serving the least among us, persevering in prayer even amidst crisis, and loving God above all things.” 
 
Taylor also points to the examples set by his grandfather — “Daddy Joe” — and his parents as instrumental and lasting influences in his Catholic faith journey. 
 
“My grandfather was my first spiritual mentor. Daddy Joe showed me that an essential part of being a man was being a believer in Christ and a faithful member of his Church,” Taylor said. “I don’t think I would have become a priest if it wasn’t for him.” 
 
He added, “My parents also taught me the faith and inculcated in me a deep devotion. I can’t thank them enough.” 
 
Danny’s parents couldn’t be happier about his chosen vocation. 
 
“Duncan and I are so proud of Danny,” said Carol Taylor, Danny’s mom. “We both feel extremely blessed and humble that God called Danny to the priesthood. My heart is full.” 
 
She added, “He is the hardest worker I know and always gives 100 percent to everything he does. He is so intelligent and gifted in so many areas, but he is so humble and would never think that about himself. He has a great heart and is always thinking about everyone else.” 
 
Selfless action 
 
Because Taylor’s ordination comes at a unique and challenging time in history, he’s had the opportunity to reflect on the meaning of “Church” in profound and nuanced ways. 
 
As Taylor has watched the unfolding of the COVID-19 crisis — largely while social distancing from his parents’ Lexington home — it’s “really the laity that are deepening my understanding of the Church,” he said. “The brave medical personnel, the grocery employees, the sanitation workers — these people are putting their lives on the line to serve others. Isn’t that precisely what being Christlike means?” 
 
While the restriction on social gatherings has required Taylor — like everyone — to largely miss the opportunity to receive the sacraments, which, he admitted, “has been tough,” he has found “spiritual nourishment” in viewing livestreamed Masses from the Cathedral. “I can feel God working through his ministers in this time of distress,” he said. 
 
In the long run, Taylor hopes this shared experience of living through the pandemic — and of seeing selflessness in action — will inspire a greater awareness in everyone about the power and nature of God’s love. 
 
“In this pandemic, we see how many people selflessly serve others and ask for nothing special in return,” he said. “That is my dream for the whole Church.”
 
Read the full June issue of Cross Roads magazine here.