BY KATHI STEARNS

Staff Writer

ATLANTA-Father Daniel Fleming, 40, a native of Baltimore, Md., is the fifth child of Margaret and Jared B. Fleming Jr., parishioners of St. Andrew's Church, Roswell.

Father Fleming is a graduate of James Madison University at Harrisonburg, Va., where in 1981 he earned a bachelor's degree in business administration. He spent nine years in the computer field before he realized that something in his life was missing.

"During this time I was basically in the middle of a 10 year hiatus from the Catholic Church," said Father Fleming, who was baptized Catholic as an infant. "I had left the Church in my middle adolescent years, and it wasn't until I reached my mid-twenties that I realized there was a void in my life. When I was 27 I discovered that the void existed because of a lack of a spiritual life. Quite frankly, I shopped the various denominations before reconfirming my place within the Catholic Church."

Father Fleming was living in Atlanta because of a business relocation during this year of discovery. After much prayer and time spent in discernment he registered as a parishioner at the Cathedral of Christ the King, Atlanta. "After pulling away from the Church like I did, I experienced a rebirth of my Christian life," Father Fleming said. "Once I started attending Mass on a regular basis and was able to be reconciled with the Church, I felt that I had rediscovered my home."

At Christ the King he became involved in the Rite of Christian Initiation program, the Cursillo movement, Rainbows for God's Children and youth ministry programs.

"Suddenly I found myself becoming more focused on these ministries than I was on my career," he said. "It was at this time that things began to unfold. Although the call to the priesthood comes from God, it is confirmed by other people. Within weeks of my reunion with the Church, people began to ask me if I had ever considered a vocation."

Father Fleming began his seminary studies in 1991 at Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Maryland. In 1993 he transferred to St. Meinrad Seminary in Indiana where he earned his master of divinity degree this year.

While in the seminary Father Fleming served as the elected academic representative of the deacon class (fifth year) at St. Meinrad and was a voting member of the academic committee.

He was ordained to the transitional diaconate at the Archabbey Church of Our Lady of Einsiedeln, St. Meinrad, Ind., on Nov. 4, 1995. Archbishop Daniel Buechlein, OSB, of Indianapolis, was the ordaining prelate.

"The time in seminary was a real period of growth for me on many different levels," Father Fleming said. "Spiritually, academically and personally I've really seen myself mature over the past five years."

Father Fleming completed a pastoral internship at St. Paul of the Cross Church, Atlanta, and worked at the finance office of the Archdiocese of Atlanta during the summer of 1992. He spent the summer at St. John the Evangelist Parish, Hapeville, during 1993 and assisted at St. Gabriel's Church, Fayetteville, during the summer of 1995. During the summer of 1994 he completed a clinical pastoral education rotation at Scottish Rite Hospital.

Father Fleming credits Father Paul Berny, pastor of St. Gabriel's Church, Msgr. Henry Gracz, pastor of St. James the Apostle Church, McDonough, Father Victor Reyes, parochial vicar at the Church of St. Jude the Apostle, Atlanta, and Msgr. Jerome Neufelder, a member of the faculty at St. Meinrad, with nurturing his call to the priesthood.

Father Fleming sees his ordination as the beginning of the rest of his life. "Graduation and ordination mark the beginning of ministerial work," he said. "For me my ordination day is a starting point after which I can get out into the trenches and minister to God's people. At the same time, I must keep focused on my prayer life to ensure its continued growth. I think the future will be both challenging and rewarding."

Father Fleming celebrated his first Mass at the Cathedral of Christ the King, Atlanta, on Sunday, June 2 at 3 p.m.

Father Fleming's brothers Jared, J. Christopher, John and Thomas Fleming of Baltimore, Md., and Patrick, Michael and Matthew Fleming of Atlanta attended his ordination and first Mass with their families. His sister Katie Kameron and her husband Robert were also in attendance along with Father Fleming's parents.

Father Fleming has been appointed to the Church of St. Benedict, Duluth, for his first assignment as a parochial vicar.