SAVANNAH, Ga. (CNA/EWTN News) — On July 19, Pope Benedict XVI appointed 59-year-old Father Gregory Hartmayer, OFM Conv., to lead the Diocese of Savannah, Ga.
He also accepted the resignation of Bishop J. Kevin Boland, 76, who is one year past the age of retirement. The Pope named Bishop Boland apostolic administrator of the diocese until the ordination of Bishop-elect Hartmayer in October.
“I am extremely grateful to Pope Benedict for his confidence in me as the bishop of Savannah,” Bishop-elect Hartmayer said at a press conference announcing his appointment on July 19.
“I am continually impressed with God’s sense of humor and his incredible ability to surprise.”
The bishop-elect currently serves as the pastor of St. John Vianney parish in the Archdiocese of Atlanta and will become the 14th bishop of the Savannah Diocese.
Catholics make up nearly 3% (around 77,000 faithful) in a diocese that encompasses a population of 2.8 million.
Bishop-elect Hartmayer was born in 1951 in Buffalo, N.Y., and later studied in the Conventual Franciscan novitiate in Ellicott City, Md. He was ordained a priest for the Franciscans in 1979.
He said that his Franciscan formation will guide him as a bishop.
“I bring with me a spirituality of simplicity and joy,” he said. “For almost 800 years, the Franciscans have been preaching about the love and mercy of God. This friar and son of St. Francis will continue that mission of evangelization here a bishop of the Diocese of Savannah.”
In addition to a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy from St. Hyacinth College and Seminary in Massachusetts, the bishop-elect holds three master’s degrees: a master of divinity degree from St. Anthony-on-Hudson, in Rensselaer, N.Y.; a master of arts degree in pastoral counseling from Emmanuel College in Boston and a master of education degree from Boston College.
Bishop-elect Hartmayer has spent 16 of his 32 years of priesthood in Catholic high-school education and the remaining half in parish ministry.
His ordination will take place Oct. 18 at the Cathedral of John the Baptist in Savannah.
The bishop-elect praised his predecessor Bishop Boland — who has been a priest of the diocese for more than 50 years — saying, the “people of Savannah love him.”
“I can tell you without question, he loves you too. I have very, very large shoes to fill.”
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Bishop Boland will be greatly missed. He has been the Bishop of Savannah since my husband and I were in college at GA Southern Univ. in the late 90s and were just beginning to look into converting to the Faith. He has always been warm and personable…and his Irish accent is divine ;).
Yes, Father Hartmeyer has big shoes to fill. Our prayers are with him!
Delightful news and a blessing for the Diocese of Savannah! The Franciscan bishop will lead a great renewal in South Georgia. Perhaps, he will give impetus to the cause for beatification of the five Franciscans who were martyred in the 1700’s!
This is one of the most puzzling appointments to come from this pope. Expecting one of the vibrant, young conservatives Benedict has been noted for, we have a relatively obscure priest from an order in decline who is noted as a high school principal and sponsoring Lifeteen Masses at his parish. Why was this man selected? Is there some special qualification we do not know about about? Or was this a favor to Archbishop Wilton Gregory? The story will unravel with time. Until then, we must pray for Fr. Hartmayer, that the Holy Spirit will give him wisdom and courage for a diocese in serious need of a Catholic identity.
Eli, do you think 59 is that old! The special qualification that you wonder about is an openness to the work of the HOly Spirit. The story will unravel with time. Pax et Bonum.
Dear Fr. H, congratulations on your being appointed Bishop of Savannah. We have much in common: MEd from BC ‘64 so Eli must think I’m really old! I like the Conventuals: we had them for hs and/or seminary retreats and Fr. Thaddeus Mudry worked for my dad in Allentown PA before sem days. Let me have a less public email address; I want to give you a suggestion on vocations and I have a question about one of your Sav priests who was at a camp w/ me in the ‘50s in Mohnton PA. Good luck in Savannah. My wife and I will visit Sav in Mar and we hope to attend a Mass celebrated by you. Oremus pro invicem. Ed Klein FLA 727-786-3910
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