The Archdiocese of Atlanta and its Cathedral parish of Christ the King lost a beloved priest Oct. 30 when Msgr. Thomas A. Kenny died in his home at the age of 69.

A native of County Sligo, Ireland, who studied at All Hallows College seminary in Dublin, Msgr. Kenny had served in the archdiocese for 43 years since he was ordained in June 1965. For the past 18 years, he has been the rector of the Cathedral of Christ the King.

Other parish communities with deep spiritual ties to Msgr. Kenny are Corpus Christi Church in Stone Mountain, where he was pastor for 13 years, and St. Michael Church in Gainesville, where he was pastor in the 1970s. He also spent years at Holy Cross and Sacred Heart churches in Atlanta.

A priest who inspired and trusted his parishioners to live out their faith, Msgr. Kenny was often most comfortable behind the scenes, engendering a warmth and confidence in a church community that seemed to bind together diverse people in Christian love and activity. Along with his beaming smile and Irish humor, he is also remembered for being with individuals and families in their times of greatest joy and greatest sorrow and for personally noticing and touching those in need.

The funeral rites for Msgr. Kenny were to begin on Wednesday, Nov. 5, with his body being received at the Cathedral of Christ the King and lying in state from 2 to 7 p.m. Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory was to preside at a vigil service at 7 p.m. on Nov. 5 and at the funeral Mass on Thursday, Nov. 6, at 10:30 a.m. at the Cathedral. Burial was to follow at Arlington Cemetery in Sandy Springs.

In addition, a Parish Memorial Mass was to be celebrated at 7 p.m. at the Cathedral of Christ the King on Thursday, Nov. 6, by Archbishop-emeritus John F. Donoghue for those unable to attend the morning funeral Mass. Father Kevin Hargaden was to be the homilist.

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated for Msgr. Kenny at Corpus Christi Church, 600 Mountain View Drive, Stone Mountain, on Thursday, Nov. 20, at 7 p.m.

A Monsignor Thomas Kenny Memorial Fund has been established at the Cathedral of Christ the King, 2699 Peachtree Road, N.E., Atlanta, GA 30305. People have written messages of condolence, stories and memories in online posts at the Cathedral Web site, www.cathedralofchristtheking.org.