By Gretchen Keiser

Father Joseph J. Beltran, administrator of St. Gabriel’s Mission in Fayetteville, is being treated at St. Joseph’s Hospital, Atlanta, after suffering a stroke on Feb. 19.

Father Beltran was scheduled to perform a wedding Friday evening, Feb. 19, at St. Philip Benizi Church in Jonesboro. When he hadn’t appeared by 8 p.m., everyone felt there was something wrong since he is known for his punctuality.

Deacon Al McHugh, assigned to St. Gabriel’s, was called. He in turn called Deacon Patrick Batuyong. The two men found Father Beltran on the floor of his small rectory and immediately summoned the Fayette County emergency unit.

Father Beltran was transferred to St. Joseph’s Hospital on Feb. 20. A hospital spokesperson termed his condition “serious” on Feb. 22.

His sister, Mrs. Angie Cebulski, and brother, Frank Beltran, said doctors told them the pastor had suffered a serious stroke of the right brain which affected the left side of his body. Doctors say he has some facial paralysis.

Mrs. Cebulski said he replied “fantastic” (one of his favorite expressions) when a nurse asked him Sunday how he was feeling. Another sister, Helen Marie, came from Florida to share the bedside vigil.

Archbishop Eusebius Beltran, recently installed in Oklahoma City, Okla., is being kept informed of his brother’s condition by family members. A heavy schedule of confirmations kept him from flying to Atlanta over last weekend.

Father Beltran, 63, underwent quadruple bypass surgery in December, 1983.