It isn't difficult for the Rev. John Jacob "Jay" Wagner III to find motivation for his many pursuits. For more than a year he's been administrator of Sacred Heart Church in Norfolk's Ghent neighborhood, a parish community of about 800 families that keeps him on his toes with four Masses a weekend, and he has served as Old Dominion's Catholic campus minister nearly two years.

Wagner, 47, who received bachelor's degrees in history and secondary education from Old Dominion in 1977 and 1979, conducts two Masses a week on campus, as well as counsels students and leads prayers at various university functions. He's also adviser to the university's Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity, of which he has been a member since 1976.

Old Dominion's Catholic student group is an active one that has conducted clothing drives, made sandwiches for the homeless and held a benefit dance for St. Mary's Infant Home. "The students are very energizing and young at heart, quite into their faith," Wagner said. "They take it very seriously. That rubs off and gives you hope for the future."

A native of Norfolk, Wagner attended Norfolk Catholic High School, where he was a classmate of Old Dominion sports information director Carol Hudson '76 (M.A. '79). After graduating from Old Dominion, Wagner taught at Catholic High for three years before enrolling in Theological College at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., where he earned his master's of divinity degree in 1987. He also has had priestly assignments in Richmond, Virginia Beach, Roanoke, Charlottesville and Williamsburg.

If there is such a thing as a typical priest, it's probably safe to say that Wagner is not one. He enjoys going to rock concerts - he's seen Paul McCartney, the Stones, Pink Floyd, Billy Joel and Elton John - and he has a unique hobby. Visit his office at Sacred Heart and what stands out is his collection of celebrity autographs. He has about 500 - everyone from Liza Minelli to Richard Nixon. Most of the signatures are ones Wagner has gotten himself, though he's bought and received others as gifts.

He's had many enjoyable encounters with celebrities, including the time he and his friend Glenn, also a priest, waited in collar to meet Mathew Broderick after the actor's stage performance in "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying."

"He was just so gracious and giving of his time," Wagner said. "You knew he was exhausted, but yet he took the time to spend time us."

Despite the occasional rejection, such as the time several years ago when Julie Andrews snubbed him, Wagner's personal star search has continued unabated. He confesses that it is "the excitement of meeting a star" that keeps him in the hunt.