Three archdiocesan priests were honored for their “labors in the Church” and elevated to the rank of monsignor in a ceremony at the Cathedral of Christ the King.

The three are Msgr. John D. Stapelton, rector, Cathedral of Christ the King; Msgr. John F. McDonough, pastor, Holy Spirit and Msgr. R. Donald Kiernan, pastor, St. Jude’s. They were hosts at a dinner for relatives and clergy preceding the Oct. 10 ceremony. Msgr. Michael M. Manning, pastor of St. Thomas More, gave the main address at the festivities.

The formal investiture began with a procession of prelates accompanied by the Knights of Columbus honor guard. The monsignors received the pope’s blessing for their “Labors in the Church” and a blessing from Archbishop Thomas A. Donnellan. They in turn pledged their fidelity to the Church’s traditions and affirmed their respect for Pope St. Pius X and Pope Pius XI. The symbolic rochet (a surplice) and biertta (a hat) were presented to them by the archbishop.

The Mass was concelebrated by the archbishop and new monsignors. Attending clergy were: Msgr. Daniel J. Bourke, Augusta, Ga.; Msgr. Felix Donnelly, Albany, Ga.; Msgr. John P. Keilty, Boston, Mass.; Msgr. Marvin LeFrois Columbus, Ga.; Msgr. A.J. McDonald, Savannah, Ga.; Dom Augustine Moore, Monastery of the Holy Spirit, Conyers, Ga.; Msgr. Michael J. Regan, Immaculate Heart of Mary, Atlanta; Msgr. John I. Toomey, Macon, Ga.; Msgr. Thomas D. Sheehan, Macon, Ga.

Archbishop Donnellan noted in his homily “the spirit of sacrifice” which marked the honorees. Quoting from the text of a late Brazilian archbishop, he said, “First, love the Church; love the pope-he is your sweet Christ on earth. Love the priests. Love the work of the Church. Secondly, defend the Church with the purity of your customs so that the paganism of your environment will not contaminate you.”

He emphasized a need to work for success in the areas of “liturgy, Catholic action and social progress.” The archbishop said that the monsignors have “love the Church, served the Church, suffered with the Church, and made the integrity of their lives a testimony to the Church’s teaching.”