ATLANTA--Father John Henley, who retired in August after 22 years as a priest of the Archdiocese of Atlanta, has not retired from his ministry of helping people.

Father Henley is helping an old friend, Father Clifford A. Norman at an orphanage and nursing home, Santa Maria del Mexicano, in the state of Queretaro, about 120 miles north of Mexico City. The two became friends at the Trappist monastery in Gethsemani, Ky., many years ago.

Father Henley, while serving with the Navy on Guam during World War II, read a book, The Man That Got Even With God, by a Trappist priest about the monastery. He became so interested that he wrote to the abbot and later entered Gethsemani as a lay brother.

He spent his time in prayer and labor and used periods of solitude to read and reflect. Monastery leaders took advantage of refrigeration skills Henley had acquired in the Navy and assigned him to help build a new cheese plant.

It was during his time that Fathers Henley and Norman met and became friends. Father Henley kept in touch with him and other friends he had made at Gethsemani through a newsletter.

Father Henley also served in monasteries in New York, California and Mexico before entering St. Meinrad Seminary in Indiana. Shortly before his graduation he was recruited by this archdiocese to work in predominantly Spanish-speaking parishes. He was ordained in Atlanta on May 26, 1975.

During his years in North Georgia, Father Henley served Spanish-speaking missions and was assigned to parishes in Blue Ridge, Dalton, Dahlonega and Monroe. He enjoyed all his assignments in the archdiocese, especially in the small communities because of the family spirit of the people in the congregations.

A highlight of Father Henley's priesthood was a sabbatical spent at St. Peter's in Rome. His memories of this time include assisting with Holy Week services, sitting in the sanctuary with Pope John Paul II and attending Mass in the pope's private chapel.

Parishioners of St. Anna's, Monroe, showed their appreciation for his seven years as pastor at a farewell party July 30.

Parishioners at other churches he served also remember him for his kindness, his readiness to reach out and help the less fortunate, and his cooking skills.

Father Henley said he would encourage young people and people of all ages to spend time in prayer and labor. Only then, he said, when you give yourself to God in solitude, can you know of his love and mercy.

Father Henley's new address is: APDO POSTAL No. 13, Colon, QRO., Z.P. Mexico 76270.