Father Eusebius J. Beltran, vicar general of the Archdiocese of Atlanta and pastor of Saint Anthony’s parish, was invested as Prelate of Honor with the title of Reverend Monsignor by Archbishop Thomas A. Donnellan on Wednesday, November 6, at ceremonies at Saint Anthony’s.

Saint Anthony’s, where Monsignor Beltran has served as pastor since June 1972, was filled to capacity for the ceremony. Many stood in the aisles to witness the ceremony of investiture, the first in Atlanta since 1969 when Monsignor R. Donald Kiernan, Monsignor John F. McDonough and the late Monsignor John Stapleton were invested.

A native of Wilkes-Barree, Pennsylvania, Monsignor Beltran graduated from St. Charles Seminary in Philadelphia and was ordained May 14, 1960 in Atlanta.

Prior to becoming pastor of Saint Anthony’s, Monsignor Beltran served as pastor of Holy Cross parish for almost six years. His previous assignments included assistant pastorates at the Cathedral of Christ the King and Sts. Peter and Paul and pastor of Saint Mary’s in Rome.

He has also served as Officialis of the Metropolitan Tribunal, vice chancellor of the archdiocese, moderator of the archdiocese, moderator of the Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women and as a member of the Priests’ Senate.

In September 1971, while serving as pastor of Holy Cross, Monsignor Beltran was named archdiocesan vicar general by Archbishop Donnellan, succeeding Monsignor Michael Manning.

Then 37 years old, Monsignor Beltran was unusually young for the position of vicar general, which, according to Church law, is the highest administrative office of the diocese after the bishop.

At the time of his appointed as vicar general, Monsignor Beltran was also the highest judicial officer of the archdiocese, after the archbishop, as he continued to serve as Officialis of the Metropolitan Tribunal.

Monsignor Beltran’s brother, Father Joseph Beltran, is pastor of Corpus Christi parish in Stone Mountain, and his sister, Sister Sponsa Beltran, is a member of the Bernadine Sisters of Saint Francis order and presently serving in Liberia.