The Diocese of Savannah is a

Latin Church , native_name_lang = la , image = San Giovanni in Laterano - Rome.jpg , imagewidth = 250px , alt = Façade of the Archbasilica of St. John in Lateran , caption = Archbasilica of Saint Joh ...

ecclesiastical territory or

diocese In Ecclesiastical polity, church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop. History In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided Roman province, pro ...

of the

Catholic Church The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...

in the southern

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

comprising 90 of the southern counties of the

state State may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Literature * ''State Magazine'', a monthly magazine published by the U.S. Department of State * ''The State'' (newspaper), a daily newspaper in Columbia, South Carolina, United States * ''Our S ...

Georgia Georgia most commonly refers to: * Georgia (country), a country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia * Georgia (U.S. state), a state in the Southeast United States Georgia may also refer to: Places Historical states and entities * Related to the ...

.The Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah
, Savannah, Georgia: Catholic Diocese of Savannah, 2013, Retrieved 1 January 2014. It is led by a

prelate A prelate () is a high-ranking member of the Christian clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin , the past participle of , which means 'carry before', 'be set above or over' or 'pref ...

bishop A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...

who serves as

pastor A pastor (abbreviated as "Pr" or "Ptr" , or "Ps" ) is the leader of a Christian congregation who also gives advice and counsel to people from the community or congregation. In Lutheranism, Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy and ...

of the

mother church Mother church or matrice is a term depicting the Christian Church as a mother in her functions of nourishing and protecting the believer. It may also refer to the primary church of a Christian denomination or diocese, i.e. a cathedral or a metro ...

, Cathedral Basilica of Saint John the Baptist in the city of Savannah. The Diocese of Savannah is a

suffragan diocese A suffragan diocese is one of the dioceses other than the metropolitan archdiocese that constitute an ecclesiastical province. It exists in some Christian denominations, in particular the Catholic Church, the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria ...

part of the

ecclesiastical province An ecclesiastical province is one of the basic forms of jurisdiction Jurisdiction (from Latin 'law' + 'declaration') is the legal term for the legal authority granted to a legal entity to enact justice. In federations like the United State ...

under the metropolitan

Archdiocese of Atlanta In church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop. History In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided provinces were administratively associat ...

Demographics

Today the Diocese of Savannah comprises 90 counties in south Georgia. It covers . There are 56 parishes and 21 missions within the diocese, serving about 78,347 lay Catholics.

History

Pope Pius IX Pope Pius IX ( it, Pio IX, ''Pio Nono''; born Giovanni Maria Mastai Ferretti; 13 May 1792 – 7 February 1878) was head of the Catholic Church from 1846 to 1878, the longest verified papal reign. He was notable for convoking the First Vatican ...

erected the Diocese of Savannah on 3 July 1850, taking the state of Georgia from the

Diocese of Charleston The Roman Catholic Diocese of Charleston is an ecclesiastical territory, or diocese, of the Roman Catholic Church in the Southern United States that comprises the entire state of South Carolina. Currently, the diocese consists of 96 parishes an ...

and the state of Florida, less the panhandle region, from the Diocese of Mobile and making it a suffragan of the

Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Baltimore ( la, link=no, Archidiœcesis Baltimorensis) is the premier (or first) see of the Latin Church of the Catholic Church in the United States. The archdiocese comprises the City of Baltimore and nine of M ...

, on 3 July 1850.''The Archdiocese of Atlanta: A history'', Strasbourg, France: Editions du Signe, Archdiocese of Atlanta, 2006. On 9 January 1857, the same pope erected the Vicariate Apostolic of Florida, taking the territory that was in Florida from the Diocese of Savannah.

Pope Pius XI Pope Pius XI ( it, Pio XI), born Ambrogio Damiano Achille Ratti (; 31 May 1857 – 10 February 1939), was head of the Catholic Church from 6 February 1922 to his death in February 1939. He was the first sovereign of Vatican City fro ...

changed title of the diocese to Diocese of Savannah-Atlanta on 5 January 1937, reflecting the growth of the Catholic population of the state and the rising prominence of the city of Atlanta. At that time, the pope designated the Church of Christ the King in Atlanta as the co-cathedral in the second see. With continued growth in the number of Catholics in the northern counties of Georgia,

Pope Pius XII Pope Pius XII ( it, Pio XII), born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli (; 2 March 18769 October 1958), was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 2 March 1939 until his death in October 1958. Before his e ...

erected the Diocese of Atlanta, taking the northern part of Georgia from the existing diocese and changing the title of the existing diocese back to Diocese of Savannah, on July 2, 1956, and created the Diocese of Savannah and the Diocese of Atlanta. On 10 February 1962,

Pope John XXIII Pope John XXIII ( la, Ioannes XXIII; it, Giovanni XXIII; born Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, ; 25 November 18813 June 1963) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 28 October 1958 until his death in June 19 ...

elevated the Diocese of Atlanta to a metropolitan archdiocese, creating an

of the same name, and designated the Diocese of Savannah as one of its suffragans.

Sexual abuse

In 2004 it was reported that the Diocese had paid a total of $50,000 to 12 people who accused 6 priests who served in the Diocese of sexually abusing them. One accused clergy, Wayland Brown was convicted and died in prison in 2019. Another accused clergy, Lorenzo Garcia, was

defrocked Defrocking, unfrocking, degradation, or laicization of clergy is the removal of their rights to exercise the functions of the ordained ministry. It may be grounded on criminal convictions, disciplinary problems, or disagreements over doctrine or d ...

in 2008 without facing any criminal punishment. Henry Groomer, another Catholic clergyman who was accused of sexual abuse, committed suicide in 2017 after being served with a lawsuit.

Bishops

Bishops of Savannah

From 1937 to 1956, this diocese was the Diocese of Savannah-Atlanta. In 1956, it became the Diocese of Savannah again when Atlanta split off as a separate diocese. #

Francis Xavier Gartland Francis Xavier Gartland (January 13, 1805 – September 20, 1854) was an Irish-born American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the first bishop of the Diocese of Savannah, covering Georgia and Eastern Florida, from 1850 until his d ...

(1850–1854) # John Barry (1857–1859) #

Augustin Verot Jean Marcel Pierre Auguste Vérot, known commonly as Augustin Verot, (May 1804 – June 10, 1876) was a French-born American prelate of the Catholic Church who served as the first bishop of the Diocese of St. Augustine in Florida (1870–1876). ...

(1861–1870), appointed Bishop of Saint Augustine #

Ignatius Persico Ignazio Camillo Guglielmo Maria Pietro Persico (30 January 1823, Naples – 7 December 1895) was an Italian Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church who served multiple assignments including as Vicar Apostolic, bishop, Apostolic delegate to Ire ...

(1870–1874) #

William Hickley Gross William Hickley Gross, C.Ss.R., (June 12, 1837 – November 14, 1898) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who was a member of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Savannah in Georgia ...

, C.Ss.R. (1873–1885), appointed Archbishop of Oregon City #

Thomas Albert Andrew Becker Thomas Albert Andrew Becker (December 20, 1832 – July 29, 1899) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the first bishop of the Diocese of Wilmington (1868–1886) and the sixth bishop of the Diocese of Savannah in ...

(1886–1899) #

Benjamin Joseph Keiley Benjamin Joseph Keiley (October 13, 1847 – June 17, 1925) was an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Savannah in Georgia from 1900 to 1922. Biography Early life and education Benjamin Keiley was born ...

(1900–1922) #

Michael Joseph Keyes Michael Joseph Keyes, S.M. (February 28, 1876 – August 7, 1959) was an Irish-born American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as bishop of the Diocese of Savannah in Georgia from 1922 to 1935. He previously served as director of Ma ...

, S.M. (1922–1935) #

Gerald Patrick Aloysius O'Hara Gerald Patrick Aloysius O'Hara (May 4, 1895 – July 16, 1963) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as an auxiliary bishop in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia (1929-1935), as bishop of the Diocese of Savannah in Georgi ...

(1935–1959), Archbishop (personal title) in 1950; appointed

Apostolic Nuncio An apostolic nuncio ( la, nuntius apostolicus; also known as a papal nuncio or simply as a nuncio) is an ecclesiastical diplomat, serving as an envoy or a permanent diplomatic representative of the Holy See to a state or to an international org ...

to Ireland and later

Apostolic Delegate An apostolic nuncio ( la, nuntius apostolicus; also known as a papal nuncio or simply as a nuncio) is an ecclesiastical diplomat, serving as an envoy or a permanent diplomatic representative of the Holy See to a state or to an international o ...

to Great Britain #

Thomas Joseph McDonough Thomas Joseph McDonough (December 5, 1911 – August 4, 1998) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as an auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of St. Augustine in Florida (1947–1957), as auxiliary bishop and bishop of t ...

(1960–1967), appointed Archbishop of Louisville #

Gerard Louis Frey Gerard Louis Frey (May 10, 1914 – August 16, 2007) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the bishop of the Diocese of Savannah in Georgia (1967–1972) and the Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana (1972–1989). Biog ...

(1967–1972), appointed Bishop of Lafayette in Louisiana #

Raymond W. Lessard Raymond William Lessard (December 21, 1930 – January 3, 2016) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the 12th bishop (Catholic Church), bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah, Diocese of Savannah in Geo ...

(1973–1995) # J. Kevin Boland (1995–2011) #

Gregory John Hartmayer Gregory John Hartmayer, Conventual Franciscans, O.F.M. Conv. (born November 21, 1951) is an American prelate of the Catholic Church, Roman Catholic Church. A Conventual Franciscan, he serves as the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta, archbish ...

, OFM Conv. (2011–2020), appointed

Archbishop of Atlanta In Christian denominations, an archbishop is a bishop of higher rank or office. In most cases, such as the Catholic Church, there are many archbishops who either have jurisdiction over an ecclesiastical province in addition to their own archdioc ...

# Stephen D. Parkes (2020–present)

Auxiliary bishops

Francis Edward Hyland Francis Edward Hyland (October 9, 1901 – January 31, 1968) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of what was then the Diocese of Atlanta in Georgia from 1956 to 1961. He previously served as an auxiliary ...

(1949–1956), appointed Bishop of Atlanta *

(1957–1960), appointed Bishop of Savannah

Other bishops who were priests of this diocese

Andrew Joseph McDonald Andrew Joseph McDonald (October 24, 1923 – April 1, 2014) was an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Little Rock in Arkansas from 1972 to 2000. Biography Early life The second youngest of 12 childr ...

, appointed Bishop of Little Rock in 1972 *

Emmet M. Walsh Emmet Michael Walsh (March 6, 1892 – March 16, 1968) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Charleston in South Carolina (1927–1949) and as bishop of the Diocese of Youngstown in Ohio (1 ...

, appointed Bishop of Charleston in 1927 and later Coadjutor Bishop of Youngstown succeeding to that see

Clergy and religious

The current number of

priests A priest is a religious leader authorized to perform the sacred rituals of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and one or more deity, deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in p ...

stands at 102. Of these, 90 are serving actively, while 22 priests are in retirement status. There are 75 men that serve the diocese as members of the permanent

diaconate A deacon is a member of the diaconate, an office in Christian churches that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions. Major Christian churches, such as the Catholic Churc ...

, as well as 82 religious (mostly

nuns A nun is a woman who vows to dedicate her life to religious service, typically living under vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience in the enclosure of a monastery or convent.''The Oxford English Dictionary'', vol. X, page 599. The term is o ...

High schools

There are 5 Catholic high schools and 16 elementary schools in the diocese, serving over 6,000 students. * Aquinas High School, Augusta *

Benedictine Military School Benedictine Military School (also referred to as Benedictine or BC) is an American Roman Catholic military high school for boys located in Savannah, Georgia, United States. It was founded in 1902 by the Benedictine monks of Savannah Priory, whic ...

, Savannah * Mount de Sales Academy, Macon * Pacelli High School, Columbus *

St. Vincent's Academy St. Vincent's Academy (SVA) is a private, Catholic, all-girls high school located next to the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in downtown Savannah, Georgia, United States. Founded in 1845 when Father Jeremiah Francis O’Neill brought six Si ...

, Savannah

References

External links

Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah Official Site
{{authority control

Savannah A savanna or savannah is a mixed woodland-grassland (i.e. grassy woodland) ecosystem characterised by the trees being sufficiently widely spaced so that the Canopy (forest), canopy does not close. The open canopy allows sufficient light to rea ...

Diocese of Savannah The Diocese of Savannah is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in the southern United States comprising 90 of the southern counties of the state of Georgia.

Culture of Savannah, Georgia

1850 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)