By Gretchen Keiser

Archbishop Thomas Donnellan's convalescence appears to be benefiting from the care of the Hawthorne Dominican sisters.

The archbishop has been at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cancer Home in Atlanta for the last two weeks as a guest of the sisters, to continue convalescing.

"We consider it a great honor. We're just delighted that he's with us," Sister M. Rosalie Bricher, OP, said. She is the superior of the community of nursing nuns.

Since Thursday, August 24, the archbishop, seated in a wheelchair, has taken part in the sisters' 6:30 a.m. community Mass, concelebrating the Mass with Father Joseph Drohan, chaplain. More visitors are coming for short visits, Sister Bricher said, including "a great number of priests" and Bishop Eusebius Beltran from Tulsa, OK. He has also been reading the daily Office of the church with Sister M. de Paul Mullen, OP, who is the head nurse on his floor. While still convalescing, "his spirits are good," Sister Bricher said, and he has walked across his room using a walker.

Father Peter Ludden, chancellor, said the archbishop was showing a "general and very welcome improvement."

"I think the nuns are doing a wonderful job taking care of him," he said.