About Saint Mark · Eastman, Georgia
Saint Mark Catholic Church is a small Roman-Latin rite parish in Eastman, Georgia, situated in Dodge County and served by the Diocese of Savannah. The parish is located at 1687 Hawkinsville Highway and forms part of the Macon Deanery. It serves both English- and Spanish-speaking Catholics in rural Middle Georgia, celebrating a bilingual Sunday Mass schedule (10:45 AM in English followed by a Noon Spanish Mass, with a Thursday evening bilingual Mass as well).
- Patron
- St. Mark (the Evangelist)
- Rector
- Rev. Samuel Aniekwe
- Diocese
- Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah
Why belong here
St. Mark offers a welcoming Catholic home in rural Dodge County with bilingual worship — English, Spanish, and bilingual services that make it a true gathering place for the area's diverse faithful. As part of the Diocese of Savannah's Macon Deanery, the parish is connected to the wider diocesan family while maintaining the warmth of a smaller rural mission church. Visitors and parishioners are invited to celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and to become part of a faith community rooted in the heart of Middle Georgia.
Mass times at Saint Mark
Weekly Mass schedule
Parish Identity & Location
Saint Mark Catholic Church serves Catholics in and around Eastman, the seat of Dodge County in Middle Georgia. Its address on Hawkinsville Highway places it on the Golden Isles Parkway (US 341), just north of the city, an accessible location for parishioners from Eastman and the surrounding rural communities.
Diocese & Deanery
St. Mark is a parish of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah, one of the oldest dioceses in the southeastern United States. Within the diocese, the parish is grouped into the Macon Deanery, which links the small and mid-sized parishes of Middle Georgia in common pastoral and liturgical coordination under the bishop.
- Diocese: Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah
- Deanery: Macon
- Bishop (current): Most Reverend Stephen D. Parkes
Parish Clergy & Pastoral Leadership
Bishop Stephen D. Parkes announced clergy changes effective July 1, 2026, in which Rev. Samuel Aniekwe was appointed Pastor of St. Mark Church, Eastman, paired with Holy Redeemer Church, McRae. Father Aniekwe previously served as Parochial Administrator of St. Mary Church, Americus. He succeeds Rev. John Stephen Ariko, AJ, of the Apostles of Jesus religious order, who — together with Fr. Jude Shayo, AJ — had ministered at St. Mark, Holy Redeemer (McRae), Immaculate Conception (Dublin), and St. William (Sandersville) for the past seven years before returning to the Apostles of Jesus for new assignments from their Superior General.
- Pastor: Rev. Samuel Aniekwe (effective July 1, 2026)
- Pastor also of Holy Redeemer Church, McRae
- Predecessor as Parochial Administrator: Rev. John Stephen Ariko, AJ (Apostles of Jesus)
Apostles of Jesus Era (through mid-2026)
For roughly seven years, St. Mark was served by members of the Apostles of Jesus (AJ), a religious order stepping in during a period of clergy need in the diocese. The Diocese of Savannah publicly thanked Fr. Ariko and Fr. Shayo for their selfless and charitable service, while noting the transition was decided after prayer and consultation. As of July 1, 2026, all four parishes (Eastman, McRae, Dublin, and Sandersville) returned to diocesan priestly staffing.
Hispanic & Bilingual Ministry
St. Mark maintains an active bilingual worship life, with a Spanish-language Mass each Sunday and bilingual celebrations on Thursday evenings. This ministry reflects the growing Hispanic Catholic presence in Middle Georgia and is a defining feature of the parish's identity and outreach.
- Sunday Spanish Mass at Noon
- Thursday bilingual Mass at 7:00 PM
Contact & Practical Information
Parishioners and visitors can reach St. Mark by phone during parish hours. The mailing and physical address is on Hawkinsville Highway in Eastman; visitors coming from out of town can locate the church just north of Eastman on US 341 / Golden Isles Parkway.
- Address: 1687 Hawkinsville Highway, Eastman, GA 31023
- Phone: (229) 868-8217
- County: Dodge
- Rite: Roman-Latin
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. John Stephen Ariko, AJ
Served as Parochial Administrator of St. Mark Church, Eastman (paired with Holy Redeemer Church, McRae) under the Apostles of Jesus religious order; returned to the Apostles of Jesus to receive a new assignment from their Superior General.
- Rev. Samuel AniekweEffective July 1, 2026
Appointed by Bishop Stephen D. Parkes as Pastor of St. Mark Church, Eastman and Holy Redeemer Church, McRae. Previously Parochial Administrator of St. Mary Church, Americus.