Donald Kiernan

Robert Donald Kiernan (born December 28, 1924) is an American Roman Catholic priest who served as the second and longest-serving pastor of All Saints Catholic Church in Dunwoody, Georgia.

Robert Donald Kiernan


Pastor Emeritus, All Saints Catholic Church
Preceded by	Joseph Beltran
Succeeded by	Hugh Marren

Early life

Robert Donald Kiernan was born and raised in Taunton, Massachusetts., the youngest of five children born to Thomas F. and Lena V. (Doherty) Kiernan. Upon graduating from Coyle High School in Taunton, MA in 1942, he attended Providence College, Providence, Rhode Island for three years. He was awarded a bachelor's degree in 1991 by Providence College based upon his life's work. In March 1945, he entered Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland and was ordained May 4, 1949 by Richard Cardinal Cushing, Archbishop of Boston at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston, Massachusetts.^[1]

Career

The newly ordained Kiernan was assigned to the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Savannah, Georgia which began his service to the diocese of Savannah which would be followed by assignments to the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, St. Peter's Church in LaGrange, St. Anna's Church in Monroe and St. Joseph's Church in Athens. He served as pastor of St. Anthony's Church in West End, St. Jude's Church in Sandy Springs, Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Atlanta, St. Bernadette's Church in Cedartown and St. Michael's Church in Gainesville. In 1969, he was named Prelate of Honor (Reverend Monsignor) by Pope Paul VI and was bestowed the highest rank of Monsignor, Protonotary Apostolic, in 1979 by Pope John Paul I.^[2] In 1985, Kiernan was assigned to All Saints Catholic Church in Dunwoody, Georgia where he served as pastor until 2011.

In 1962, he co-founded the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police and served as its Director and Chaplain for over twenty years^[3] and continued his service in law enforcement as chaplain for the Georgia State Patrol, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, the DeKalb County Police Department, the Atlanta office of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and became the first chaplain for the Sandy Springs Police Department in 2007.^[4]

Awards and honors

Numerous honors and awards conferred upon Kiernan include:^[1]

In 1974, honorary Doctorate of Public Administration (D.P.A.) conferred by Biscayne College, Miami, FL
In 1979, Prothonotary Apostolic (highest rank of Monsignor) bestowed by Pope John Paul I
In 1987, Howard “Red” Atherton Award (commitment to betterment of local government in GA)
In October 1996, received Cardinal McCloskey Award from Mount Saint Mary Seminary
Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary Club of West End following 34 years of perfect attendance
In August 1998, honorary Ph.D. conferred by Georgia State University
On May 8, 1999, honorary L.L.D. conferred by Providence College
On April 27, 2000, Vicar General (V.G.) bestowed by Archbishop John F. Donoghue^[5]
On February 24, 2011, Pastor Emeritus bestowed by Archbishop Wilton Gregory
On March 3, 2011, Archbishop Donoghue Award bestowed by Catholic Charities Atlanta

References

1 2 "Catholic Charities, Legislators Honoring Msgr. Kiernan". Georgiabulletin.org. Retrieved 2013-07-02.
↑ "Tribute To The Reverend Monsignor R. Donald Kiernan". Capitol Words. Retrieved 2013-07-02.
↑ "Heneghan's Dunwoody Blog: Governor Nathan Deal and the Georgia Legislature honors Dunwoody's Msgr. Kiernan of All Saints". Dunwoodynorth.blogspot.com. 2011-03-08. Retrieved 2013-07-02.
↑ "Sandy Springs Police Department welcomes monsignor as chaplain". Reporter Newspapers. 2007-07-27. Retrieved 2013-07-02.
↑ John Francis Donoghue

External links

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