Father Ken Bayer, MSFS, was admitted to Emory University Hospital on Aug. 23, suffering from pneumonia.

The pastor of St. Patrick's parish in Norcross was in stable condition early this week. He was heavily sedated and being kept in isolation in intensive care.

According to Father John DeVore, parochial vicar at St. Patrick, Father Bayer is showing improvement and my no longer need oxygen or sedation by the first of the month.

"The staff at St Patrick has set up a schedule so there is always someone at his bedside for when he comes out of sedation," Father DeVore said. "When he wakes up he'll start worrying about things going on in the parish. We're asking parishioners not to visit him, but we know there are prayers coming from all over Atlanta -- that helps."

Father Bayer underwent chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant last September at Emory to treat chronic myelocytic leukemia diagnosed in June, 1992.

Prior to the diagnosis of pneumonia, Father Bayer had attended the World Youth Day program in Denver, concelebrating Mass with Pope John Paul II on the final day. He then returned to Atlanta and attended the Installation Mass for Archbishop John Donoghue Aug. 19. The archbishop visited Father Bayer in the hospital Aug. 27.