Msgr. Michael Manning, pastor of St. Thomas More Church, Decatur, has been appointed vicar general of the archdiocese by Archbishop Thomas A. Donnellan.

His appointment was announced Thursday by Archbishop Donnellan.

Canon law says the vicar general is appointed by the bishop, who also has the power to replace him. He is an Ordinary and assists the bishop with ordinary power in the diocese.

His jurisdiction is the same as that of the bishop except in matters which the bishop has reserved to himself or which, according to law, requires a special mandate of the bishop. A vicar general, for example, has the power to grant faculties to priests to hear confessions, to grant dispensations and assist in the administration of the diocese.

Msgr. Manning, a priest for 33 years, is a member of the Senate of Priests and the Board of Consultors. He is also spiritual moderator of the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women.

He was invested as a domestic prelate Feb. 6, 1967 by Archbishop Hallinan. The monsignor was honored after serving as president of the Archdiocesan Synod.

Msgr. Manning was born in Dingle, County Kerry, Ireland, in 1912. He attended the St. Brendan Minor Seminary in Kilarny and was ordained June 21, 1936, and was assigned to the Diocese of Savannah.

Msgr. Manning has served parishes in Savannah, Augusta, and Albany and as pastor of Thomasville, St. Michael’s Gainesville, and Sts. Peter and Paul, Decatur. He was appointed pastor at St. Thomas More in September 1967.