Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah


The Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the southern United States comprising 90 of the southern counties of the state of Georgia. It is led by a prelate bishop who serves as pastor of the mother church, Cathedral Basilica of Saint John the Baptist in the city of Savannah.

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 79,000 lay Catholics.

History

The diocese was canonically erected on July 3, 1850, by Pope Pius IX, taking its territories from the Diocese of Charleston, including all of Georgia and a large portion of Florida. Originally, the Diocese of Savannah, therefore, was created from the Diocese of Charleston; and the Diocese of Charleston originated from the Archdiocese of Baltimore, Maryland. Pope Pius XI changed the ecclesiastical territory's name of the Diocese of Savannah to become the conjoined Diocese of Savannah-Atlanta on January 5, 1937, to reflect the growth of Catholicism in the state. The number of Catholics in the northern counties of Georgia had grown so much that Pope Pius XII divided the ecclesiastical territory on July 2, 1956, and created the Diocese of Savannah and the Diocese of Atlanta. At that time, there were also two designated co-cathedrals, including St. John the Baptist in Savannah and Christ the King in Atlanta.

Sex Abuse

In 2004 it was reported that the Diocese had secretly paid a total of $50,000 to 12 people who accused 7 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 in 2008 without facing any criminal punishment. Henry Groomer, another Catholic clergyman who was accused of sex 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.
  1. Francis Xavier Gartland
  2. John Barry
  3. Augustin Verot, appointed Bishop of Saint Augustine
  4. Ignatius Persico
  5. William Hickley Gross, C.Ss.R., appointed Archbishop of Oregon City
  6. Thomas Albert Andrew Becker
  7. Benjamin Joseph Keiley
  8. Michael Joseph Keyes, S.M.
  9. Gerald Patrick Aloysius O'Hara, Archbishop in 1950; appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Ireland and later Apostolic Delegate to Great Britain
  10. Thomas Joseph McDonough, appointed Archbishop of Louisville
  11. Gerard Louis Frey, appointed Bishop of Lafayette in Louisiana
  12. Raymond W. Lessard
  13. J. Kevin Boland
  14. Gregory John Hartmayer, OFM Conv., appointed Archbishop of Atlanta
  15. Stephen D. Parkes

    Auxiliary Bishops

The current number of priests 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, as well as 82 religious.

Member parishes

Alapaha
Albany
Alma
Americus
Augusta
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*
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Bainbridge
Baxley
Blakely
Brunswick
Buena Vista
Cairo
Camilla
Claxton
Columbus
Cordele
Cuthbert
Darien
Donalsonville
Douglas
Dublin
Eastman
Fitzgerald
Folkston
Fort Valley
Glennville
Grovetown
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Hazlehurst
Hinesville
Jesup
Kathleen
Louisville
Macon
McRae
Metter
Millen
Montezuma
Moultrie
Pembroke
Pine Mountain
Port Wentworth
Ray City
Reidsville
Richmond Hill
Sandersville
Sandhill
Savannah
Springfield
St. Marys
St. Simons
Statesboro
Swainsboro
Sylvania
Thomasville
Tifton
Twin Lakes
Tybee Island
Valdosta
Vidalia
Warner Robins
Waycross
Waynesboro
Willacoochee
There are 5 Catholic high schools and 16 elementary schools in the diocese, serving over 6,000 students.