Deacon Wesley Jones served at St. Jude, St. Ann parishes in Indianapolis

By Sean Gallagher

Deacon Wesley Jones, a retired permanent deacon of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis, died on June 23 at his home in Albuquerque, N.M., where he had lived in retirement. He was 77.

The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on July 18 at St. Ann Church in Indianapolis. Father Jude Meril Sahayam, pastor of St. Ann Parish, was the principal celebrant of the Mass. Father Robert Hausladen, pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Indianapolis and St. Susanna Parish in Plainfield, was the homilist. Burial followed at Calvary Cemetery in Indianapolis.

Deacon Jones was a member of the first group of men ordained permanent deacons in the history of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis when Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein ordained the group on June 28, 2008, in SS. Peter and Paul Cathedral.

Health challenges limited Deacon Jones in his life and ministry as a deacon. But he remained positive in his service, said Father Robert Hausladen, who ministered with him at St. Ann Parish in Indianapolis.

“He was joyful,” said Father Hausladen. “He liked what he was doing. He liked serving. Even though he was struggling physically, he wanted to continue to serve and he did as long as he could.”

Deacon Jones, who had to walk with a cane, found a way to express his joy in his limited mobility.

“He had bells on his walking cane,” remembered Father Hausladen. “The kids liked the bells.”

Deacon Patrick Bower, who was ordained with Deacon Jones in 2008, said that his classmate “had the heart of a deacon” and was drawn more to one-on-one ministry.

“You’d really see there his heart and his deacon ministry,” Deacon Bower said.

Wesley Heywood Jones was born on June 12, 1947, in Cleveland, Ohio. He married Mary Jane Martin on Aug. 14, 1971. She survives. They were the parents two children, who survive.

Deacon Jones earned three degrees at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind.: a bachelor’s degree in metallurgical engineering, a master’s degree in industrial administration and a doctorate in marketing research.

He later worked as a professor at three universities: the University of Kentucky, the University of Indianapolis and Western Governor’s University.

After his ordination as a permanent deacon in 2008, Deacon Jones served in Indianapolis at St. Jude Parish and later at St. Ann Parish. He also took part in a spiritual direction internship program at the Benedict Inn in Beech Grove and was trained as a hospital chaplain.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Jane Jones, his children, Ellen and Martin Jones, and his siblings, Cathy Dabney, Louise Strayhorn and Craig Jones. †