Father Eddie O’Connor underwent angioplasty Jan. 11 at Atlanta’s St. Joseph’s Hospital after suffering a heart attack Jan. 5. Hospital authorities listed his condition as good and said if he continues to do well he should be released by the end of the week.

The 58-year-old pastor of Holy Trinity Church in Peachtree was visiting friends in Gainesville when he experienced symptoms. He was taken to North Georgia Medical Center where tests confirmed the initial diagnosis of a heart attack. Further tests revealed blockage of a heart artery and he was transferred to St. Joseph’s Jan. 10 for the angioplasty procedure. Archbishop John F. Donoghue visited him in the Gainesville hospital Sunday, Jan. 9.

Father David McGuinness, a long-time friend from Waterford, Ireland, is filling in at Holy Trinity for Father O’Connor. Father McGuinness frequently assists his friend when the pastor takes time off for vacation, Judy Gannon, the priest’s secretary said. Mrs. Gannon suggests that calls and correspondence for Father O’Connor be directed to the parish, which is better equipped to handle the large volume from Father O’Connor’s friends. The address is P.O. Box 2121, 101 Walt Banks Road, Peachtree City, Ga. 30071.

“It’s disheartening to see such a big, healthy individual laid low by illness,” commented Father Dick Morrow. “At the same time, I feel that for such a good person -- a gentle and devout priest -- well, there’s a need for all of us to pray for his recovery.

A veteran of bypass surgery himself and long-time gold “buddy” of Father O’Connor’s, Father Morrow added, “I also think during his recuperation he will need a lot of quiet time and it’s important for all of us to remember this.”