Archbishop Thomas A. Donnellan has announced that four priests of the Archdiocese of Atlanta have received Papal Honors for their service to the Church in North Georgia. They are Monsignors John F. McDonough and R. Donald Kiernan, who have been designated Protonotary Apostolic; Father Noel C. Burtenshaw, who has been designated Prelate of Honor with the title Monsignor, and Father Jerry E. Hardy, who has been designated Chaplain to His Holiness with the title Monsignor.

The investiture of the four monsignors will take place at the Cathedral of Christ the King on December 15 at 7:30 p.m. in a Eucharistic ceremony.

Monsignor McDonough is vicar general of the archdiocese and rector of the Cathedral of Christ the King. A native of Boston, Monsignor McDonough, ordained in Boston in 1941, began his service in Georgia in 1949. He has held assignments in many parishes in the archdiocese and is presently a member of the archdiocesan board of consultors. He became rector of the Cathedral in 1972 and designated monsignor in 1969.

Monsignor R. Donald Kiernan is a native of Taunton, Mass. Ordained in 1959, he has served in many different assignments in Savannah and North Georgia. For many years, he edited The Georgia Bulletin. He was designated monsignor in 1969 and became pastor of Immaculate Heart of Mary in April, 1978.

Father Burtenshaw, a native of Dublin, Ireland, was ordained in 1962. He served as chancellor of the archdiocese of six years and has held many pastoral assignments. He is presently serving as director of communications of the archdiocese and pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Church. Father is also a member of the archdiocesan board of consultors.

Father Hardy grew up in the Atlanta area, is a graduate of Marist School. He was born in Augusta, Georgia. Ordained in Rome, Italy, in 1964, he has served in Atlanta parishes and presently holds the assignment of chancellor of the archdiocese. He is also secretary of the archdiocesan board of consultors.

Archbishop Donnellan will celebrate the ceremony of Investiture at the Cathedral on December 15. A reception for the four monsignors will follow in the Hyland Center at the Cathedral.

The Papal Honors presented to the four priests were issued by His Holiness John Paul I.