By Gretchen Keiser

Committing himself to a life of service, Reverend Mr. Gregory Goolsby was ordained a transitional deacon December 11 in preparation for priesthood for the archdiocese of Atlanta.

A native Georgian who grew up in Decatur and Buford, and earned a law degree at Georgia State University, Reverend Mr. Goolsby, 36, will spend a final year studying theology at Catholic University of America beginning in January. He is expected to be ordained to the priesthood in December 1993.

Deliberate in his walk toward this ordination over the years, Reverend Mr. Goolsby said he was nervous prior to the Mass, but quietly certain. "I was so ready for this tonight," he said. "No questions."

Assisted by Reverend Mr. Patrick Kingery, who had been a fellow student at St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore and friend, the new deacon said they were aware that a milestone had been reached with both their ordinations accomplished.

Also savoring the moment was Charles Goolsby, his father. "I'm mighty proud tonight and we'll really celebrate when he's ordained a priest, but this is the first step." He said.

Goolsby said his son's vocation did not surprise him, but that he said nothing until Greg told him of his intention to become a priest.

"When other kids were playing cowboys and Indians, he was saying Mass for all the Protestants in the neighborhood," his father said. "I kept waiting. Finally after he finished college, he told me."

Reverend Mr. Goolsby attended Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic School in Decatur, North Gwinnett High School and Xavier University in Cincinnati. He received a master's in business administration at Georgia State before his law degree. Once considering a Jesuit vocation, he spent a year in the formation program before returning to the business world.

However, he continued to experience dissatisfaction until he returned to study for the priesthood, this time as a diocesan priest for the Atlanta archdiocese.

Randie Seigel, an attorney who helped Goolsby begin his practice, said he "enjoyed the law, but (the priesthood) was always his calling." She said the ordination service was "absolutely beautiful."

Bishop W. Thomas Larkin, retired bishop of St. Petersburg, Fla., ordained Reverend Mr. Goolsby at Holy Family parish in Marietta in the absence of Archbishop James P. Lyke, OFM. Bishop Larkin said he had visited with the archbishop before the Mass and called him "an inspiration and example to all of us in carrying the heavy cross he has been carrying ... I am sure he is doing far more now than he has ever done in his life" through redemptive suffering.

Father Don Kenny, vocations director, presented the diaconate candidate to Bishop Larkin, who accepted him while the congregation applauded. Later in the ordination Mass Reverend Mr. Goolsby made his commitment to a life of celibacy and to obedience to Archbishop Lyke and his successors. Bishop Larkin then laid his hands upon his head and ordained him a deacon, reading a prayer of consecration. Father Kenny and the father of the new deacon helped him to vest in the garb of deacon and he received the book of the Gospels, signifying his call to preach the word of God.

Concelebrating the Mass were Monsignor Edward Dillon, vicar general, Father Kenny, Father Paul Fogarty, Father Stephen Churchwell, Father Vincent Malatesta, SJ, and Father James Labosky, VF.

A number of priests of the archdiocese and current seminarians also took part. The music was coordinated by Kathy Kuczka, with singers taking part who are friends of the deacon, accompanied by piano, organ, trumpet, harp and flute.

Reverend Mr. Goolsby's mother, Margaret, is deceased, but her names, Margaret and Josephine, were mentioned in the litany of saints.