About Our Divine Saviour · Tifton, Georgia
Our Divine Saviour Catholic Church is a bilingual Roman Catholic parish in Tifton, in southern Georgia, part of the Diocese of Savannah (Albany Deanery). The parish serves nearly 300 families from many cultural backgrounds and celebrates Mass in both English and Spanish. Located at 1205 Love Avenue, the parish also ministers to Catholics in nearby Fitzgerald through a satellite Mass at St. William and historically to the mission church of St. Ann's in Alapaha. Today it is pastored by Father Peter Oyenugba, MSP, a Nigerian-born priest of the Missionaries of St. Paul.
- Established
- 1953
- Patron
- Our Divine Saviour (Jesus Christ as Divine Saviour)
- Rector
- Rev. Peter Oyenugba, MSP
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah (Albany Deanery)
Why belong here
Our Divine Saviour is a warm, bilingual Catholic community in south Georgia that has welcomed families of many cultural backgrounds for more than 70 years. With English and Spanish Masses every weekend, a CCD/SAC PREP religious education program for children, an OCIA process for adults discerning the faith, and ministries for lectors, Eucharistic ministers, sacristans, youth, prayer groups and CCD teachers, there are real ways for every age and stage of life to belong. The parish also reaches beyond Tifton through a satellite Mass at St. William in Fitzgerald and its mission church of St. Ann's in Alapaha, so newcomers join a community that is small but rooted and outward-looking.
Mass times at Our Divine Saviour
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM
- Saturday 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Adoration times
- Friday 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
- First Friday of the month: 24 hours of Adoration beginning after the 12:00 PM Mass
History of Our Divine Saviour Parish
Catholic life in Tifton dates to the 1920s, when priests from Albany offered Mass in private homes. In 1929 Father Thomas A. Brennan purchased the present-day property at Bishop Michael J. Keyes's request, but no church was built for another 24 years. With the arrival of Franciscan friars in 1943, regular Sunday Mass began — first at the Tifton Courthouse (with just four worshippers), then at the Tifton Women's Club on 12th and Central for 11 years. Fundraising barbecues and spaghetti dinners, plus a $10,000 Catholic Extension Society grant, paid for the 1953 church (cost: just over $22,400). The first Mass in the new church was December 20, 1953, and Bishop Francis E. Hyland formally dedicated it on February 2, 1954.
- 1929 – Land purchased by Father Thomas A. Brennan
- 1943 – Franciscan friars begin regular Sunday Mass in Tifton
- 1946 – Parish fundraising for a permanent church begins
- 1953 – Construction; first Mass December 20, 1953
- February 2, 1954 – Church formally dedicated by Bishop Hyland
- 1962 – Parish hall added
- 1965 – First resident priest (Father Martin Bangert)
- 1977 – Religious education building added, dedicated to Father Raymond Govern, OFM
- 1981–1983 – Church expanded; weekend Masses temporarily held at Tift Area Funeral Home
- 1991 – First Spanish Mass celebrated (July)
- 1993 – Diocese resumes direct responsibility for the parish
- December 1996 – Spanish Mass becomes weekly
Becoming Catholic (OCIA)
Our Divine Saviour runs the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA, formerly RCIA) for adults discerning the Catholic faith. The parish walks inquirers through the periods of Inquiry, Catechumenate, Purification and Enlightenment (Lent), and Mystagogy (after Easter), culminating in the Sacraments of Initiation — Baptism, Confirmation and First Eucharist — at the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday. In the Diocese of Savannah the Rite of Election is celebrated the Saturday after Ash Wednesday / First Sunday of Lent. An OCIA enrollment form is available on the parish forms page.
- Inquiry and Introduction period
- Rite of Acceptance into the Order of Catechumens
- Catechumenate — Scripture, prayer, formation
- Rite of Election (Diocesan, Saturday after Ash Wednesday)
- Lent: Purification and Enlightenment
- Easter Vigil: Baptism, Confirmation, and First Eucharist
- Mystagogy through Pentecost
CCD & Religious Education
The parish operates a CCD (Confraternity of Christian Doctrine) religious education program for children, with a parallel SAC PREP track in Spanish. The parish website posts CCD calendars (English and Spanish), registration forms for the 2025–26 year, and a CCD wish list for supplies. CCD teachers are among the parish's active ministries, forming the next generation in the Catholic faith.
- CCD Calendar for English and SAC PREP (Spanish)
- Catechism registration dates and program offerings
- CCD Registration — English form 2025–26
- CCD Registration — Spanish form 2025–26
- CCD Wish List (supplies for students and teachers)
Parish Ministries
Our Divine Saviour invites parishioners to join one of its ministries. Liturgical roles include Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers (who also bring Communion to the sick and homebound), and Sacristans. Formation and community ministries include Youth Ministry, Prayer Groups, and CCD Teachers. A Parish Council of elected members advises and supports parish life.
- Lector
- Eucharistic Minister
- Sacristan
- Youth Ministry
- Prayer Group
- CCD Teacher
- Parish Council (2023–2024): Tania Bautista, Martha Solis, Debbie Blakey, Juan Carlos Diaz, Gary Burtle, Claudia Mejia, Bob Kererait, Amalia Solis
Sacraments
Forms and guidance for the parish's sacraments are available on the Parish Forms page. The parish prepares couples for Marriage (forms in English and Spanish), supports families through Infant Baptism (with registration and sponsor forms and documented godparent requirements), and runs OCIA for those coming into full communion with the Church.
- Baptism — registration form, sponsor form, godparent requirements
- Marriage — preparation forms (English and Spanish)
- OCIA — Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (Baptism, Confirmation, First Eucharist at Easter Vigil)
- Confirmation — received at Easter Vigil for OCIA candidates
Mission & Satellite Communities
Our Divine Saviour extends its ministry beyond Tifton. A Sunday Mass is celebrated at St. William in Fitzgerald at 11:30 AM, and the parish supports a mission church, St. Ann's in Alapaha. The Diocese of Savannah lists Father Peter Oyenugba, MSP, as pastor of both Our Divine Saviour and St. William.
- St. William, Fitzgerald — Sunday 11:30 AM Mass
- St. Ann's, Alapaha — mission church (also pastored from Our Divine Saviour)
Parish Forms & Documents
All official parish forms for faith formation, sacramental preparation, and new-member registration are gathered on one page on the parish website. Forms are offered in both English and Spanish where appropriate.
- New Family Registration (ODS Form for New Membership)
- Baptism Register and Sponsor forms (English and Spanish)
- Marriage Forms (English and Spanish)
- OCIA enrollment form
- Godparent Requirements and Responsibilities
- CCD Calendar (English and SAC PREP Spanish)
- CCD Registration 2025–26 (English and Spanish)
- CCD Wish List
Visit & Contact
Our Divine Saviour Catholic Church is located at 1205 Love Avenue, Tifton, GA 31794, in the southern part of Georgia. The parish office can be reached at 229-382-4600 (fax 229-382-7611) or by email at [email protected]. Father Peter invites newcomers, those considering a move to Tifton, and those discerning the Catholic faith to come worship with the parish — 'the Spirit is moving at Our Divine Saviour Catholic Church.'
- Address: 1205 Love Avenue, Tifton, GA 31794
- Phone: 229-382-4600
- Fax: 229-382-7611
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: https://odstifton.org/
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Father Thomas A. Brennan1929
Diocesan priest from Albany who, at Bishop Keyes's request, purchased the land on which the church is built.
- Father Godfrey Weitekamp, OFMfrom 1943
First Franciscan friar to serve Tifton from the Americus friary; his first Mass drew four people to the Tifton Courthouse.
- Father Raynor A. Dray, OFMcelebrated first Mass Dec 20, 1953; returned later
Celebrated the first Mass in the new church; oversaw construction. Returned later and built the religious education building in 1977.
- Father Fred Kirchner, OFM
Added rummage sales, cake sales, bingo and pecan sales as fundraisers; oversaw the 1962 parish hall addition.
- Father Martin Bangertfrom 1965
First resident priest in Tifton, lived in the small 'Tifton Hilton' rectory.
- Father Raymond Govern, OFM1970–1976
Served until poor health forced retirement. The 1977 religious education building was dedicated to him.
- Father Fred Nijem, V.F.blessed expanded church April 17, 1983
Bishop Raymond W. Lessard's representative in the Albany Deanery who blessed the 1983 expansion.
- Father Authur Murray, OFM1983–1987
Succeeded Father Dray after his transfer to New England; retired in 1987.
- Father Roch Coogan, OFMfrom 1987
Succeeded Father Murray.
- Father James KirchnerFebruary 1995 – January 1999
Served after the diocese resumed responsibility for the parish in 1993.
- Father Justin R. Fergusonassigned July 2, 2012
- Father Peter Oyenugba, MSPassigned September 1, 2017 – present
Pastors Our Divine Saviour and its mission church St. Ann's of Alapaha.