About Diocese of Savannah
The Diocese of Savannah (Latin: Dioecesis Savannensis) is a Latin Church diocese of the Catholic Church covering the southern half of Georgia, United States. Erected on July 19, 1850 by Pope Pius IX, it originally encompassed all of Georgia and the eastern portion of Florida, and today embraces 37,038 square miles, 55 parishes, 22 missions, and roughly 80,000 baptized Catholics. Its mother church is the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist in Savannah, and it is a suffragan diocese of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Atlanta. The diocese is currently led by the 15th Bishop, Most Reverend Stephen D. Parkes, appointed by Pope Francis in 2020.
- Bishop
- Stephen D. Parkes
- Established
- 1850
- Cathedral
- Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist, Savannah
- Territory
- Southern 79 counties of the state of Georgia, covering 37,038 square miles
- Parishes
- 55 parishes and 22 missions (7 deaneries)
- Province
- Archdiocese of Atlanta (Ecclesiastical Province of Atlanta)
Diocesan History
From Spanish Franciscan missions of the 1500s through British colonial prohibition and the eventual re-establishment of Catholic worship after the Revolutionary War, the road to the Diocese of Savannah spans nearly five centuries. Erected by Pope Pius IX on July 19, 1850, the diocese was carved from the Diocese of Charleston and given jurisdiction over all of Georgia and the eastern portion of Florida. Successive boundary changes in 1857, 1870, 1937 and 1956 progressively trimmed the territory to its present form covering only the southern half of Georgia.
- 1850 — Diocese of Savannah erected; includes all of Georgia and eastern Florida.
- 1857 — Vicariate Apostolic of Florida created; Florida removed from Savannah.
- 1870 — Diocese of St. Augustine erected from remaining Florida territory.
- 1937 — Renamed Diocese of Savannah–Atlanta; Church of Christ the King in Atlanta named co-cathedral.
- 1956 — Diocese of Atlanta erected from the northern part of the state; name reverts to Diocese of Savannah.
- 1962 — Diocese of Atlanta elevated to Metropolitan Archdiocese; Savannah becomes a suffragan see.
Bishops of Savannah
The diocese has been led by fifteen bishops since 1850. The earliest ordinaries faced enormous challenges: yellow fever, frontier distances, and a tiny Catholic minority in a predominantly Protestant South. The 20th and 21st centuries brought longer tenures, greater institutional growth, and an increasing role in Catholic social teaching — including Bishop McDonough's signing of the Pentecost Statement on racial discrimination.
- Francis Xavier Gartland (1850–1854) — died of yellow fever.
- John Barry (1857–1859) — died in office in France.
- Augustin Vérot, P.S.S. (1861–1870) — first Bishop of St. Augustine.
- William Hickley Gross, C.Ss.R. (1873–1885) — later Archbishop of Oregon City.
- Gerald P. A. O'Hara (1935–1959) — personal title Archbishop 1950; papal diplomat.
- Stephen D. Parkes (2020–present) — 15th bishop.
Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist
The mother church of the diocese is the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist in Savannah. First enlarged and re-dedicated in 1853 under Bishop Gartland, it was completed in its present Gothic Revival form — including the iconic twin spires — under Bishop Thomas Becker in 1896. Designated a minor basilica, it remains the seat (cathedra) of the Bishop of Savannah and the spiritual heart of the diocese.
- Dedicated 1853 under Bishop Gartland.
- Spires and episcopal residence completed 1896 under Bishop Becker.
- Seat of the Bishop of Savannah; designated a basilica.
Catholic Schools
The Diocese of Savannah Catholic Schools serve students across southern Georgia through 5 Catholic high schools and 11 Catholic elementary schools. Led by Superintendent of Schools Carrie Jane Williamson under Vicar of Evangelization and Education Very Rev. Kevin O'Keefe, the system pledges to 'prepare hearts, educate minds, reveal Christ and cultivate the Roman Catholic tradition.'
- Aquinas High School (Augusta)
- Benedictine Military School (Savannah)
- St. Vincent's Academy (Savannah)
- Mount de Sales Academy (Macon)
- St. Anne-Pacelli Catholic School (Columbus)
- Immaculate Conception Catholic School (Macon-area)
- St. Mary on the Hill Catholic School (Augusta)
- St. Francis Xavier Catholic School (Brunswick)
- St. Joseph's Catholic School (Macon)
- St. Peter Claver Catholic School (Hinesville)
- Blessed Sacrament Catholic School (Savannah)
- St. James Catholic School (Savannah)
- Saint Peter the Apostle Catholic School (Savannah)
- St. John the Evangelist Catholic School (Savannah)
- Sacred Heart Catholic School (Warners Robins area)
Catholic Charities of South Georgia
Catholic Charities of South Georgia is the social-services arm of the diocese, working in collaboration with parish communities and other organizations to serve those in need. The agency offers life-giving programs, advocates for the voiceless, and empowers the poor and vulnerable to foster a more just society, reaching across the 37,038 square miles of the diocese.
- Phone: (912) 233-1877
- Website: ccsoga.org
- Focus areas: food security, housing, family services, immigration services, disaster relief.
Pastoral and Community Services
Chaired by the Chancellor and Managing Director Deacon Kevin Knight (CW3, Ret.), the Office of Pastoral and Community Services oversees deacon formation, Catholic Charities, and ministry to the peripheries — especially Port, Prison and Migrant Ministry. The office also coordinates continuing education for clergy and serves as liaison to retired priests.
- Permanent Deacon Formation and Ministry
- Catholic Charities (social services)
- Port Ministry (Savannah seaport)
- Prison Ministry
- Migrant Ministry
- Continuing Education for Clergy
- Liaison to Retired Priests
Evangelization and Discipleship
Under the Vicar of Evangelization and Education Very Rev. Kevin O'Keefe, this office helps parishes and schools experience a renewal of spirit and mission, supporting the Church's call to 'go, make, baptize, and teach' (Matthew 28:18–20). It coordinates four sub-offices: Cultural Engagement, Evangelization, Fellowship and Life, and Formation and Catechesis.
- Cultural Engagement
- Evangelization
- Fellowship and Life
- Formation and Catechesis
Formation and Catechesis
The Office of Formation and Catechesis helps parishes and schools form spiritually mature, intentional Catholics who actively live out their faith through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and his Church. It supports sacramental preparation, adult faith formation, RCIA, catechist training, and ongoing Catholic education for all ages.
- Sacramental preparation
- Adult faith formation
- RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults)
- Catechist training and certification
- Ongoing Catholic education
Youth Ministry and Diocesan Youth Conference (DYC)
The Office of Youth Ministry advocates for and encourages ministry to young people in every parish, fostering their personal and spiritual growth as missionary disciples of Jesus Christ. The signature gathering is the Diocesan Youth Conference (DYC), which draws high school students from across the diocese for a weekend of faith, community, prayer, and encounter with Christ — featuring dynamic speakers, worship, the sacraments, fellowship, and engaging sessions. Prayer and Action, a Catholic mission program for high school teens, gives young people the opportunity to serve in their local diocese while living in authentic Catholic community with their peers.
- Diocesan Youth Conference (DYC) — annual high school gathering.
- Prayer and Action — Catholic mission program for high school teens.
- Adult and youth leader mentoring, networking, and training.
Catholic Foundation of South Georgia
The Catholic Foundation of South Georgia is a non-profit, independent charitable foundation that exists to provide effective stewardship of philanthropic assets entrusted to its care by donors who desire to advance the religious, charitable, and educational works of the Catholic Diocese of Savannah, its parishes, schools and agencies. It partners with professional advisors to offer planned-giving vehicles and works with parish councils, school finance boards and agency representatives to grow endowment funds.
- Managing Director: Melinda Cannady (912-201-4067)
- Planned giving strategies
- Parish and school endowment development
Permanent Diaconate
The Permanent Diaconate program forms and supports married and unmarried men called to ordained diaconal service. Permanent deacons often serve in parishes or other ministries in addition to full-time secular employment, and may act — with the bishop's permission — as parish administrators. Increasingly they serve in full-time ministries in parishes, hospitals, prisons, and diocesan positions, frequently working directly with the marginalized: the poor, the sick, the hungry, and the imprisoned.
- Formation program for permanent deacons
- Continuing education and brotherhood
- Service in parishes, hospitals, prisons, and diocesan offices
Bishop Stephen D. Parkes
Most Reverend Stephen D. Parkes is the 15th Bishop of the Diocese of Savannah. Pope Francis appointed him on July 8, 2020, and he was consecrated and installed on September 23, 2020 at the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist by Archbishop Gregory John Hartmayer, OFM Conv. Born June 2, 1965 in Mineola, New York, Bishop Parkes grew up in Massapequa on Long Island, the third son of Ronald and Joan Parkes. He earned a bachelor's degree in business administration/marketing from the University of South Florida, Tampa, worked in retail and banking, and entered St. Vincent de Paul Regional Seminary in Boynton Beach, Florida in 1992. He was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Orlando on May 23, 1998 at St. James Cathedral, Orlando. He speaks English and Spanish; his episcopal motto is 'Gaudete in Domino semper' — Rejoice in the Lord always.
- Appointed July 8, 2020 by Pope Francis.
- Installed September 23, 2020 at the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist.
- 15th Bishop of the Diocese of Savannah.
- Brother of Bishop Gregory Parkes of St. Petersburg — the 11th pair of brother-bishops in U.S. Catholic history.
- Previously directed Catholic campus ministry at the University of Central Florida.
- Bilingual in English and Spanish.
