By Gretchen Keiser

The archdiocese of Atlanta is being administered temporarily by its vicar general while Archbishop Eugene A. Marino, SSJ, rests and receives medical care.

The archbishop suffered chest pains while traveling outside the diocese May 3, was examined by doctors and prescribed a treatment including rest and relief from the daily duties of his office for a period of time. Physicians diagnosed him as suffering from acute exhaustion and said he was in imminent danger of cardiac stress, said Father Edward Dillon, vicar general.

After attending a May 3 gathering at St. Paul the Apostle Church in New York City, where he received an award, the archbishop underwent medical tests that weekend and is staying at a retreat center in the New York area near the medical facility, Father Dillon said.

While the news is serious, Father Dillon noted that the archbishop essentially needs “good, old-fashioned bed rest so he can be at a distance from the immediate stresses of his official duties.

“The doctors felt he would not give himself that rest in Atlanta. I think the priests and people would give it to him, but he himself would feel compelled to be on the job,” the vicar general observed.

The morning of May 7 all pastors or their parish staff and Catholic institutions were notified by members of the Catholic Center staff. A morning meeting was also held at the Catholic Center.

A letter to all priests, Religious women and men, and deacons in the archdiocese providing more information was also sent May 7.

“I know this will hit each of us personally and will be temporary setback for the archdiocese,” Father Dillon’s letter said, in part. “However, I know if we are united in our efforts, we can deal with it. I ask your support and your personal prayers for him and for all of us. Please, too, be assured that the archbishop will resume his duties and that, until he does, we will maintain his program and the course on which he has set the archdiocese.”

Archbishop Marino’s second anniversary of installation as archbishop of Atlanta came May 5, an anniversary noted in a front-page article by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The article recorded a typically busy day in the archbishop’s schedule in late April taking him from Atlanta to Toccoa and on to Athens for Church activities.

His usually long days have also been punctuated by travel to other cities for national bishops’ conference work, for commitments involving his leadership among black Catholics in the United States, and in the archdiocese of Washington, D.C., where he was an auxiliary bishop for 14 years. The archbishop has also been impacted by painful dissension created when Father George Stallings, a former Washington priest, left the Catholic Church and formed his own breakaway church aimed at black Catholics.

The archbishop has been in daily phone contact with Father Dillon and also consulted with the papal pro-nuncio to the U.S., Archbishop Pio Laghi, who offered his “unqualified support and encouragement,” Father Dillon said. The archbishop was also assisted by New York Cardinal John O’Connor.

Appointments and engagements that require Archbishop Marino’s personal attention have been canceled for the near future. Other commitments will be delegated wherever possible.

The schedule of Confirmations in parishes will be completed with the assistance of All Saints pastor Monsignor Donald Kiernan, the priests who are deans of the archdiocese, and Father Dillon. The upcoming ordinations of new priests in Ireland and Atlanta will continue as scheduled, with the assistance of other bishops, Father Dillon said. The archbishop will concelebrate if possible at that time.

The archdiocese has been asked to pray for the archbishop’s speedy recovery, particularly in the prayers of the faithful at every Mass. Those who wish to express concern for the archbishop may mail greeting to the archbishop’s office, although he will be unable to respond personally at this time.