Diocese of Savannah

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Stored: Diocese of Savannah


Diocese: Diocese of Savannah
Status: Active
Rite:
Type: Suffragan diocese
Ecclesiastical Province: Province of Atlanta
Suffragan Dioceses:
Metropolitan Archdiocese: Archdiocese of Atlanta
Country: United States
Region: Georgia (U.S. state)
Bishop: Stephen D. Parkes
Website: https://diosav.org
Newspaper: https://southerncrossga.org
Catholic Percentage: 2.7%
Catholic Elementary Schools: 13
Catholic High Schools: 4
Deaneries: 6
Priests: 90
Existence: 1850–
Predecessor Diocese:
Successor Diocese:
Catholic Hospitals: 2
Rating: 3.4

The Diocese of Savannah, a suffragan diocese of the Latin Rite, is an active diocese encompassing the southern 90 counties of Georgia in the United States. Founded in 1850 by Pope Pius IX, it is led by Bishop Stephen D. Parkes as of 2020. As part of the Province of Atlanta, the diocese serves a diverse Catholic community in a historically Protestant region, with 56 parishes and 24 missions. A notable aspect is its historic Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist, which draws thousands of visitors annually for its Gothic architecture and cultural significance.


Establishment

The Diocese of Savannah was established on July 3, 1850, by Pope Pius IX to serve the Catholic population in Georgia and Florida, initially covering both states. It was created to address the needs of Catholic immigrants, particularly Irish and French, in the southeastern United States, without a direct predecessor diocese.[1][](https://diosav.org/en/about-us/diocesan-history)

History

Early Years

Founded in 1850 under Bishop Francis X. Gartland, the diocese initially spanned Georgia and Florida. Gartland focused on building churches and schools in a region with few Catholics, establishing the foundation for Catholic growth.[2][](https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dsava.html)

Modern Era

In 1937, the diocese was renamed Savannah-Atlanta, reflecting its expanded role until the creation of the Archdiocese of Atlanta in 1962, which reduced its territory to southern Georgia. The Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist, restored in 2000 after a fire, remains a central symbol of the diocese’s resilience.[3][](https://www.encyclopedia.com/religion/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/savannah-diocese)

Geography

The Diocese of Savannah spans 90 counties in southern Georgia, including:

It is part of the Province of Atlanta.[4]

Mother Church

Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist in Savannah, a Gothic Revival structure completed in 1876 and restored in 2000, serves as the diocese’s mother church. It is a historic landmark and a major tourist destination, elevated to basilica status in 2020.[5]

Leadership

Current Bishop

Stephen D. Parkes has served as bishop since September 23, 2020. A native of New York, he emphasizes evangelization and community engagement.[6]

Auxiliary Bishops

The Diocese of Savannah currently has no auxiliary bishops.[2]

Past Bishops

Name Tenure Notes
Francis X. Gartland 1850–1854 First bishop; died in office.
John Barry 1857–1859 Died in office.
Augustin Verot 1861–1870 Transferred to Diocese of St. Augustine.
Ignatius Persico 1870–1872 Resigned.
William H. Gross 1873–1885 Transferred to Archdiocese of Oregon City.
Thomas A. Becker 1886–1899 Died in office.
Benjamin J. Keiley 1900–1922 Resigned.
Michael J. Keyes 1922–1935 Resigned.
Gerald P. O’Hara 1935–1959 Transferred to Archdiocese of Atlanta.
Thomas J. McDonough 1960–1967 Transferred to Archdiocese of Louisville.
Gerard L. Frey 1967–1972 Transferred to Diocese of Lafayette.
Raymond W. Lessard 1973–1995 Retired.
J. Kevin Boland 1995–2011 Retired.
Gregory J. Hartmayer 2011–2020 Transferred to Archdiocese of Atlanta.

[2]

Theological and Cultural Orientation

For active dioceses, describe theological and cultural leanings based on the Rating field (1.0–5.0).

Summarize:

  • Liturgical Practices (e.g., frequency of TLM, presence of traditional or contemporary elements). - Social Teachings Emphasis (e.g., balance of traditional issues and social outreach).
  • Leadership Priorities (e.g., bishop’s stance and policies).
  • Use precise descriptors: “strongly progressive” (1.0–1.5), “slightly progressive” (1.6–2.5), “balanced” (2.6–3.4), “slightly conservative” (3.5–4.4), “strongly conservative” (4.5–5.0).

Cite diocesan websites, bishop statements, or Catholic news. For historic dioceses, discuss historical context if relevant.

Example:

== Theological and Cultural Orientation ==

The diocese leans slightly progressive (rating: 2.5), offering Latin Masses monthly in select parishes, emphasizing social outreach like poverty programs alongside traditional teachings, and led by a bishop with a neutral stance.<ref>{{cite web |url=[URL] |title=[Title] |website=[Website] |accessdate=2025-06-04}}</ref>

Statistics

The diocese covers 37,038 square miles (95,928 km²), serves approximately 80,000 registered Catholics across 56 parishes and 24 missions, and has a total population of about 2,950,000.[7][](https://www.diosav.org/en/about-us/many-members-yet-one-body)

Religious Communities

Benedictine Monks

The Benedictine Monks operate schools and support parish ministries. Address: 6502 Seawright Dr, Savannah, GA 31406. Benedictine Monks[8]

Sisters of Mercy

The Sisters of Mercy manage healthcare and educational programs. Address: 11810 King St, Savannah, GA 31419. Sisters of Mercy[8]

Parishes

Main article: List of parishes in Diocese of Savannah
Diocese of Savannah

No results

This map created from a Cargo query (Purge)

The Diocese of Savannah serves 56 parishes and 24 missions across 6 deaneries, covering southern Georgia. It includes diverse parishes with Spanish and Vietnamese-language Masses.[9]

Mission and Services

Catholic Education

The diocese manages 17 schools:

School Name City Type Website
Aquinas High School Augusta High School Aquinas
Benedictine Military School Savannah High School Benedictine
Blessed Sacrament School Savannah Elementary Blessed Sacrament
Immaculate Conception School Augusta Elementary Immaculate Conception
Notre Dame Academy Dublin Elementary Notre Dame
Sacred Heart Catholic School Warner Robins Elementary Sacred Heart
St. Anne-Pacelli Catholic School Columbus Elementary St. Anne-Pacelli
St. Francis Xavier School Brunswick Elementary St. Francis Xavier
St. James Catholic School Savannah Elementary St. James
St. Joseph’s Catholic School Macon Elementary St. Joseph’s
St. Mary on the Hill School Augusta Elementary St. Mary on the Hill
St. Michael Catholic School Tybee Island Elementary St. Michael
St. Peter the Apostle School Savannah Elementary St. Peter the Apostle
St. Teresa’s Catholic School Albany Elementary St. Teresa’s
St. Vincent’s Academy Savannah High School St. Vincent’s
St. Anne Catholic School Columbus Elementary St. Anne
Mount de Sales Academy Macon High School Mount de Sales

[10]

Community Outreach

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Savannah provides immigration services, food assistance, and disaster relief, serving over 20,000 people annually.[11]

Notable Events or Figures

References

  1. ↑ "Diocesan History". https://diosav.org/about/history. Retrieved 2025-06-04. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Diocese of Savannah". https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dsava.html. Retrieved 2025-06-04. 
  3. ↑ "Diocesan History". https://diosav.org/about/history. Retrieved 2025-06-04. 
  4. ↑ "Parish Directory". https://diosav.org/parishes. Retrieved 2025-06-04. 
  5. ↑ "Cathedral History". https://savannahcathedral.org/history. Retrieved 2025-06-04. 
  6. ↑ "Bishop Stephen D. Parkes". https://diosav.org/bishop-parkes. Retrieved 2025-06-04. 
  7. ↑ "Diocesan Statistics". https://diosav.org/about/statistics. Retrieved 2025-06-04. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Religious Communities". https://diosav.org/religious-communities. Retrieved 2025-06-04. 
  9. ↑ "Parish Directory". https://diosav.org/parishes. Retrieved 2025-06-04. 
  10. ↑ "School Directory". https://diosav.org/schools. Retrieved 2025-06-04. 
  11. ↑ "Our Services". https://www.catholiccharitiessavannah.org. Retrieved 2025-06-04. 
  12. ↑ "Diocesan History". https://diosav.org/about/history. Retrieved 2025-06-04. 

External Links

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