About Saint Stephen Protomartyr · Hinesville, Georgia
Saint Stephen First Martyr Catholic Church is a bilingual Roman Catholic parish located at 399 Woodland Drive in Hinesville, Georgia, within the Diocese of Savannah. The parish serves the Liberty County community — including the many military families stationed at nearby Fort Stewart — and offers Mass in both English and Spanish. It is staffed by the Franciscans of Mary (FM), with a pastor, parochial vicar, and permanent deacon, and provides a wide range of ministries, faith formation, Eucharistic adoration, and outreach programs including a St. Vincent de Paul food pantry.
- Patron
- St. Stephen the Protomartyr (St. Stephen, First Martyr)
- Rector
- Fr. Eder Estrada Muñoz, FM
- Diocese
- Diocese of Savannah (Deanery: Valdosta-Brunswick)
Why belong here
Saint Stephen First Martyr is a welcoming bilingual parish that serves both English- and Spanish-speaking Catholics in Hinesville and the surrounding Liberty County area, including many Fort Stewart military families. Its life is anchored in the Eucharist — with weekday adoration several mornings a week and frequent confession opportunities — and extends outward through parish ministries (Eucharistic Ministers, lectors, altar servers, choir, ushers), faith formation for all ages, and active social outreach through its St. Vincent de Paul food pantry. Visitors will find a parish committed to making it easy to participate: a published weekly bulletin, an active calendar, and a clear invitation to share one's gifts in ministry.
Mass times at Saint Stephen Protomartyr
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Monday 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM
- Tuesday 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM
- Wednesday 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM
- Thursday 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM
- Friday 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM
- Saturday 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM
Adoration times
- Tuesday 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Wednesday 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Thursday 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Wednesday 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
- Adoration begins an hour and a half before weekday Mass
About Saint Stephen First Martyr
Saint Stephen First Martyr Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish in Hinesville, Georgia, within the Diocese of Savannah's Valdosta-Brunswick Deanery. The parish community is bilingual, celebrating Mass in both English and Spanish, and serves the Catholic faithful of Liberty County including the many military families connected to nearby Fort Stewart. The parish is shepherded by members of the Franciscans of Mary religious order.
- Diocese of Savannah
- Deanery: Valdosta-Brunswick
- Bilingual parish (English & Spanish)
Clergy and Parish Staff
The parish is led by Fr. Eder Estrada Muñoz, FM, as Pastor, with Fr. Modeste Seloukou, FM, serving as Parochial Vicar. Both are members of the Franciscans of Mary. Deacon Doug Delzeith, a retired U.S. Army Command Sergeant Major, was ordained a Permanent Deacon in the Diocese of Savannah on May 26, 2012, and assigned to Saint Stephen First Martyr. The lay staff includes Sam Beiter (Office Manager), Berta Ganaway (Parish Catechetical Leader), Diana Young (Office Assistant), and Annette (Sacristan).
- Fr. Eder Estrada Muñoz, FM — Pastor
- Fr. Modeste Seloukou, FM — Parochial Vicar
- Deacon Doug Delzeith
- Sam Beiter — Office Manager
- Berta Ganaway — Parish Catechetical Leader
- Diana Young — Office Assistant
- Annette — Sacristan
Ministries
Saint Stephen First Martyr offers a broad range of liturgical and parish ministries, inviting parishioners to share their time and talents. Liturgical roles include Eucharistic Adoration volunteers, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, lectors, altar servers (boys and girls from grade 3), sacristans, the liturgical linen service, music ministry, and ushers/greeters. Behind-the-scenes ministries include offertory counters, the Finance Council, the Parish Pastoral Council, the Special Events Committee, and Flowers and Grounds. Faith formation, youth ministry, men's and women's groups, and the annual parish bazaar round out parish life.
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Faith formation is described by the parish as a vital part of Catholic life for all ages, supporting growth in knowledge of Christ and the Church. The parish offers Religious Education classes and RCIA / OCIA (the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) for those preparing to become Catholic. Berta Ganaway serves as Parish Catechetical Leader.
- Religious Education (children)
- RCIA / OCIA (Becoming Catholic)
- Parish Catechetical Leader: Berta Ganaway
St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry
The parish's St. Vincent de Paul Conference (SVdP) operates a food pantry that serves neighbors in need throughout the community. The pantry is open on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Donations of non-perishable food and personal hygiene items can be dropped into the blue collection box by the gift shop or at the parish office. The parish also runs "Red Wagon Weekends" on the 3rd weekend of each month for in-pew collections. Monthly SVdP meetings are held on the 2nd Thursday at 1:30 PM.
- Food Pantry: 2nd & 4th Thursdays, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Red Wagon Weekend: 3rd weekend of the month
- SVdP monthly meeting: 2nd Thursday, 1:30 PM
- Contact: 678-892-6163 / [email protected]
Sacraments
The parish prepares members for the sacraments of Christian initiation and life. A Baptism Class is offered (Sundays at 1:00 PM per the published calendar), faith formation covers First Communion and First Reconciliation, and the parish supports adults preparing to enter the Church through RCIA / OCIA. Couples should contact the parish office for marriage preparation; the Anointing of the Sick is available through the parish office.
- Baptism & Baptism Class
- First Communion / First Reconciliation
- RCIA / OCIA
- Marriage preparation
- Anointing of the Sick
Parish Life & Community
Beyond the celebration of the Eucharist, Saint Stephen First Martyr describes itself as a community with an "exciting parish life." Parishioners stay connected through the weekly bulletin and the parish calendar, both published on the website. A meditation garden on the church grounds is mentioned in the parish's Liberty County Chamber listing, and an annual parish bazaar is a recurring social event. The parish explicitly invites anyone with an idea for a new ministry to contact the office.
- Weekly bulletin
- Parish calendar
- Meditation garden on grounds
- Annual parish bazaar
Visit, Contact, and Getting Involved
Parishioners and visitors can reach the church office by phone at (912) 876-4364, fax (912) 876-3150, or email at [email protected]. All instructors and volunteers are required to complete and maintain Virtus Training through the Diocese of Savannah. The parish invites anyone considering a ministry to prayerfully read the descriptions under the Ministries page and contact the Office Manager to get involved.
- Phone: (912) 876-4364
- Fax: (912) 876-3150
- Email: [email protected]
- Virtus Training required for volunteers