Print Issue: March 14, 2002

Msgr. Paul Reynolds Hospitalized With Leukemia

By Gretchen Keiser, Staff Writer

ATLANTA-Msgr. Paul H. Reynolds, vicar general in curia of the archdiocese, was diagnosed on March 8 with acute leukemia. He is hospitalized at St. Joseph's Hospital, Atlanta.

Msgr. Reynolds, 63, is a native of Dublin, Ireland, who has been a priest for close to 39 years, and has been serving as one of the archbishop's top administrators and closest advisors since April 2000. He is moderator of the curia, the central offices of the archdiocese, and handles much of the day-to-day business at the Catholic Center. He also became chancellor on Nov. 1, 2001, when the judicial vicar, Msgr. Louis Naughton, became critically ill and Msgr. David Talley, then chancellor, was named to his post at the Tribunal.

Msgr. R. Donald Kiernan, vicar general for pastoral ministries, said that Msgr. Reynolds went to a doctor only last week after feeling fatigue. Msgr. Kiernan said he was contacted when doctors learned what the diagnosis was and accompanied Msgr. Reynolds to the hospital.

"He has acute leukemia," Msgr. Kiernan said March 11. "We request prayers for him."

Archbishop John F. Donoghue notified the priests and parishes of the archdiocese, requesting their prayers for Msgr. Reynolds.

At the moment, no visitors are being permitted, Msgr. Kiernan said, but cards can be sent to The Catholic Center, 680 West Peachtree St., N.W., Atlanta, GA 30308 or to the hospital. Both Msgr. Kiernan and the archbishop have visited him.

Msgr. Reynolds studied at All Hallows Seminary in Dublin as a priest for the Diocese of Mobile-Birmingham, Ala. After serving there from 1963-70, he requested to come to the Atlanta Archdiocese in 1970, was incardinated as a priest of the Atlanta Archdiocese in 1974, and has been pastor of St. Thomas the Apostle Church, Smyrna, of St. John Neumann Church, Lilburn, and of St. Andrew Church, Roswell.

He was founding pastor of St. John Neumann, serving there 11 years, and was part of the founding of the regional Catholic school there. He also served as pastor of St. Andrew's for 12 years until he was appointed a vicar general. He has been elected dean of priests in the northwest area and has served on the archdiocesan College of Consultors, the archdiocesan Board of Education, the Pastors' Task Force on Finances, and the Personnel Board. He has also been a judge on the Provincial Court of Appeals. He was elevated to the rank of monsignor in May 2001.