Father Jarleth Burke, pastor of the Church of Our Lady in Carrollton, has been named archdiocesan director of priest vocations for Ireland, it was announced by Archbishop Hallinan today. Father Burke, ordained in 1959, is the senior Irish - born of recent years. Only Father Michael Manning (ordained in 1936) came to Atlanta before him.

Stationed with Msgr. Patrick J. O’Connor after his ordination, he has seen the increase of Irish-born clergy from two to the present time. Nineteen young men are studying for the Archdiocese of Atlanta in Irish seminaries at the present time.

It is planned that Father Burke will accompany Bishop Joseph L. Bernardin to Ireland during the coming year. They will speak with Irish bishops and pastors and visit many seminaries. Msgr. O’Connor’s tested method of requesting young men to consider the Atlanta apostolate, of interviewing and corresponding with them, and seeing them through to eventual ordination will continue to be the general pattern. Other Atlanta priests will be named to assist Father Burke in this new assignment.

In announcing the change and the new “Priests For Northern Georgia Program,” Archbishop Hallinan remarked, “The concern for priests for Georgia has been a vocation for Msgr. O’Connor for many years, and we have been blessed in his zeal and energy.”

The work began while Msgr. O’Connor was a member of the faculty at the Catholic University of America, teaching homiletics, from 1936 to 1956. He persuaded dozens of American candidates to come and see the mission fields of the state even before it became two dioceses, Savannah and Atlanta.

“With his return to Atlanta his perception of the need of priests continued and he began his annual visits to Ireland. Interviews were followed by letters and the Irish seminaries welcomed this apostle of vocations. He portrayed the nature of the new Archdiocese well, pointing out the needs both the metropolis, and the regions beyond Atlanta.

“He will continue to inspire our new program which will use many of his methods. We are fortunate in having his service as Episcopal vicar for vocations. He will continue to serve as senior member of the committee on priest candidates.