Background
Robert Donald Kiernan was born and raised in Taunton, Massachusetts., the youngest of five children born to Thomas F. and Lena V. (Doherty) Kiernan.
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, Master of Arts 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 Saint 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. The newly ordained Kiernan was assigned to the Cathedral of Saint 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, Saint Peter"s Church in LaGrange, Saint Anna"s Church in Monroe and Saint Joseph"s Church in Athens.
He served as pastor of Saint Anthony"s Church in West End, Saint Jude"s Church in Sandy Springs, Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Atlanta, Saint Bernadette"s Church in Cedartown and Saint Michael"s Church in Gainesville.
In 1962, he co-founded the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police and served as its Director and Chaplain for over twenty years 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. On March 3, 2011, Archbishop Award bestowed by Catholic Charities Atlanta.
Numerous honors and awards conferred upon Kiernan include: In 1974, honorary Doctorate of Public Administration ( Doctor of Public Administration) conferred by Biscayne College, Miami, Florida 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 Georgia) 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 Doctor of Philosophy conferred by Georgia State University On May 8, 1999, honorary L.L.D. conferred by Providence College On April 27, 2000, Vicar General (VG) bestowed by Archbishop John F. Donoghue On February 24, 2011, Pastor Emeritus bestowed by Archbishop Wilton Gregory On March 3, 2011, Archbishop Donoghue Award bestowed by Catholic Charities Atlanta.
