Msgr. Clay was born in Philadelphia in 1952, the first child of George and Mary Ann Clay. After several moves in connection with his father’s naval duties, his family finally settled in New Bern, NC where he attended elementary, junior high and senior high schools. He graduated with a degree in music in 1975 from The Catholic University of America and became a seminarian of the diocese that same year. He studied for the priesthood at the North American College in Rome and at Theological College in Washington. During this time he received his master of divinity degree and his master of liturgical music degree. He was ordained in 1980 in New Bern by Bishop Joseph Gossman, 4^th Bishop of Raleigh.

He has served the diocese as parochial vicar (Sacred Heart Cathedral, 1980-1983), pastor (St. Peter in Greenville (1983-1987), St. Thomas More in Chapel Hill (1995-1999), and St. Ann in Clayton (2007-present)), diocesan director of liturgy (1987-1989), diocesan vocation director (1987-1989, 1999-2007) and diocesan director of the permanent diaconate (2004-2008). In addition, he has served as administrative secretary for Bishop Michael Burbidge (2006-2007) and as legislative liaison and lobbyist (2007-present). For six years (1989-1995) he served on the formation faculty of Theological College, the national diocesan seminary at The Catholic University of America. While there he completed his doctorate in liturgical studies.

For over 20 years he has been a nationally recognized authority on the implementation of the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA) and has lectured on the RCIA in over 50 dioceses in the United States and Canada. He is the author of A Harvest for God: Christian Initiation in the Rural and Small-Town Parish published by Liturgy Training Publications and over 12 articles on Christian initiation and liturgy.

He received the Bishop’s Medal from Bishop Gossman in 2005 and was named a Prelate of Honor with the title, Monsignor, by Pope Benedict XVI in 2006.