Jay was born in Nashua and graduated from Bishop Guertin High School and St. Anselm College. He holds a master’s degree in communications from Emerson College and a doctorate in theology and communications from Andover Newton Theological School. He was ordained to the diaconate in 2014.

Jay is editor and publisher of Connections, a resource newsletter for homilists and preachers and serves as an adjunct professor at St. Anselm College and Merrimack College. He leads workshops around the country for both clergy and laity in preaching skills and liturgy, as well as facilitating training programs for professional, business and nonprofit organizations in communications and management issues.

Prior to ordination, Jay served as a parish liturgist and cantor and taught in religious education programs for both adults and children. He has taught in the diocese’s Called to Discipleship and Called to Servant Leadership adult education programs.

Jay has written for the Advent reflection series Waiting in Joyful Hope and the Lenten series Not By Bread Alone, published by Liturgical Press. His books include the series “Table Talk”: Beginning the Conversation on the Sunday Gospel (New City Press); “Heaven Is Like . . . “: A Gospel Model for Writing, Preparing, and Delivering the Sunday Homily (Sheed & Ward); and The Season of Light: Daily Prayer for the Lighting of the Advent Wreath (Liturgical Press). Jay has also written for Give Us This Day, America, Worship, National Catholic Reporter, and U.S. Catholic.

Jay’s wife, Ann, is pastoral associate at the Parish of the Resurrection in Nashua. They make their home in Londonderry.