Jeffrey Francis Kirby

Jeffrey Francis Kirby (born May 13, 1975) is a Catholic priest, author, and moral theologian. He is most known for his previous work in which he revolutionized the process of recruitment to the Catholic priesthood and sisterhood through contemporary social media, web design, and videography. the natural moral law, and the effort to introduce moral truth within pluralistic societies. Additionally as an author, Kirby is regarded as an authority on spiritual theology and is sought out as a conference speaker and retreat leader throughout the United States. Through his writings, Kirby is also recognized as an expert on The Vatican and St. Peter's Basilica.
Early life
Jeffrey Kirby was born in Killeen, Texas, while his father was stationed on Ft. Hood. He was raised in a military family, son of retired First Sergeant Alan Kirby, Jr., and Frances Kirby. One of three children, he has an older brother and younger sister, Alan III and Melanie. Kirby’s childhood was principally in West Germany where his father served multiple tours. In 1989, with the anticipated fall of the Berlin Wall, the family returned to the United States and made South Carolina their home. Since his time at the high school, three of Kirby’s former students have entered the seminary or convent.
In 2002, he entered the Pontifical North American College, the American seminary in Rome. While at the seminary, he attended the Pontifical Gregorian University and earned his Bachelor of Sacred Theology and then began studies toward his License in Moral Theology at Pontifical University of the Holy Cross and a Masters in Bioethics at the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum.
While studying in Rome, Kirby developed a catechetical tour of St. Peter's Basilica. The basilica tour led to the publication of two books: Encountering the Lord in His Holy Court: A Walk Through St. Peter's Basilica (2009) and 101 Surprising Facts about St. Peter's and the Vatican (2015).
In 2006, Kirby was ordained a transitional deacon in the Chapel of the Chair of St. Peter’s Basilica by . In 2007, he was ordained a Catholic priest at the Columbia Metropolitan Center in Columbia, SC. In the ceremony, six priests were ordained, the largest class of ordinations for the Diocese of Charleston since 1956. After this three month assignment, he was sent to St. Mary Help of Christians in Aiken, SC. While in Aiken, Kirby focused on Christian formation programs and care of the sick. Since his time at the parish, two young men influenced by Kirby have entered the seminary.
In 2009, Kirby began working with Peggy Wertz, the principal of St. Mary's School in Aiken, S.C., in co-authoring a trilogy of children's books on the different Christian vocations. The project was inspired when neither Kirby nor Wertz could find any such books among Catholic publishing resources at that time. The two paired up with illustrator Alice Judd, who shared the vision of providing such books to Catholic families, schools, and parishes. In 2010, Becoming Father Bob was released, in 2012, Becoming Sister Mary Grace was published, and in 2016, Becoming Mr. and Mrs. Thomas was released.
Also in 2009, Kirby was sent back to Rome to complete his License in Moral Theology and his Masters in Bioethics. He completed both while focusing on the natural law and conscience formation.
While back in Rome, Kirby began his apostolate on the radio with the show, Pathways to Rome on Mediatrix Radio. The show highlighted events in the Eternal City while Kirby was a student there. The show concluded when he returned to South Carolina. Kirby, however, anchored two other radio shows: one on faith in 2013, and another on prayer in 2015.
While still in Rome, Kirby was appointed the new Vicar of Vocations for the Diocese of Charleston, the priest in a diocese who is responsible for finding new seminarians and postulants for the convent. In over five years as the Vicar of Vocations, Kirby was internationally recognized as an expert and “revolution” in vocations work.
In 2011, Kirby released a strategic plan that called on all sectors of the church’s life to support and promote the priesthood and sisterhood. In his plan, he outlined extensive use of social media, web design, and videography. Up until this point, these resources had not been used systematically in vocations work in most places in the United States.
In 2011, as part of the strategic plan, Kirby became the founding director of the Drexel House, a Catholic Residence for Men in downtown Charleston, SC. The house would be a community of disciples aimed at growth in faith, prayer, and virtue. The house was innovative since it was open to all Catholic men, and not just those who were actively discerning the priesthood. The House joined the Catholic community in praying with the entire city of Charleston for peace and healing.
In 2013, Kirby authored the book, Lord, Teach Us to Pray, which is a guide on Christian discipleship and the spiritual life. The book was a summary of his work in vocations, and was hailed as a “saint’s playbook” by the National Catholic Register. and on premier show Witness with Father Thomas Rosica. Lessons from the book have been highlighted on Blink program.
Later, in 2015, to emphasize his work on Christian discipleship, Kirby wrote the book The Life and Witness of St. Maria Goretti. The book celebrated the first visit of the saint's body to the United States and illustrated how the young saint lived the Beatitudes. The book included a "Workshop in Holiness" segment that was intended to help others grow in their own faith and discipleship.
In 2014, Kirby was accepted as a doctoral student in moral theology at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross and began research on his dissertation while still in South Carolina. In June, 2015, Kirby concluded his term as Vicar of Vocations and returned to St. Mary Help of Christians in Aiken as a Temporary Administrator. In March, 2016, Kirby returned to Rome full-time in order to prepare for the defense of his doctoral thesis.
In 2015, Kirby paired up with a production team from St. Benedict Press and began work on a national Christian formation program entitled Doors of Mercy. The program was released in January, 2016, to coincide with the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy announced by Pope Francis. Currently, over 850 parishes are hosting the program throughout the United States. Shortly after the release of the program, a trade book was published entitled Doors of Mercy: A Journey Through Salvation History. In March, 2016, Kirby began work with the same team on a sequel program entitled Luke: The Gospel of Mercy.
On June 3, 2016, Kirby sat for his doctoral defense board. During the board, his thesis, Facilitating a Program of Conscience Formation Among Medical Personnel, was accepted and he was granted the title .
On August 15, 2016, during the dedication of the church of the new community of Our Lady of Grace in Indian Land, SC, Bishop Robert Guglielmone announced that Kirby would serve as the parish's first resident priest. In addition to being named Administrator of Our Lady of Grace, Kirby was also concurrently named Administrator of St. Joseph's in Chester, SC.

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