Father Walter J. Donovan, pastor of Most Blessed Sacrament parish, was elected president of the Priests’ Senate in its first meeting last Friday at St. Anthony’s.

The senate is an ecclesiastical group formed to deal with the spiritual and material welfare of priests in the archdiocese. Its members were elected by priests in the archdiocese after a committee headed by Msgr. P.J. O’Connor drew up the recommendations which were approved at the Synod.

Other members of the senate are Fathers Paul Kelley and Michael Anthony Morris, who represent priests who have been ordained from one to five years, Fathers Eusebius J. Beltran and Dale Freeman, five to 10 years; Fathers John D. Stapleton and R. Donald Kiernan, 10 to 20 years; Fathers Michael Manning and Donovan, 20 or more years. Msgr. Joseph E. Moylan, pastor-emeritus of Sacred Heart, was elected to represent retired priests.

Elected to represent priests who are members of orders were Father Thomas J. Roshetko, S.M., religious superior group, and Father Frank Ruff, non-superior’s group. Members of the Senate will serve for two years except for these in the one-to-five and five-to-10 year brackets who will serve three years.

Father Kiernan will serve as senate vice president and Father Freeman as secretary-treasurer. The next meeting of the Senate will be Friday, Jan. 13, at Sacred Heart Church.