ATLANTA--With the prayers and good wishes of many surrounding him, Father Richard Kieran was moved to an Atlanta hospital Nov. 23 and shows some improvement in his condition.

He was moved to the Shepherd Center from Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. He is breathing on his own and doctors have capped the tracheotomy, which was put in Nov. 8 as a precaution to assist his breathing. Since the capping, he is attempting to speak and is easier to understand, his family said. The next stage will be to remove the tracheotomy completely, his brother, Father John Kieran, said.

Although still in a coma, the level is lightening and he is showing more movement on the right side and more coordination.

Although he is no longer in intensive care, visiting is still restricted to family members only. “The family is very appreciative of the prayers and the hundreds of cards we have received,” Father John Kieran said. Updated reports on the condition of the senior priest of the archdiocese are available on the Cursillo phone line, which is (770) 455-4131.

Father Richard, 59, was stricken Oct. 30 with a brain hemorrhage and underwent emergency surgery at Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville, where he has been serving as pastor of St. Michael’s Church.