About Saint William · Fitzgerald, Georgia
Saint William is a Roman Catholic mission church in Fitzgerald, Georgia, serving the small Catholic community in Ben Hill County. It was historically a mission of St. Paul Catholic Church in Douglas and, since 2024, is a mission of Our Divine Saviour Catholic Church in Tifton, within the Diocese of Savannah (Albany Deanery). Sunday Mass is celebrated in a bilingual English/Spanish format, and the faith family is described by the parish as growing and welcoming. The mission is located in a residential area on the south side of Fitzgerald, at the corner of Merrimac Drive and Confederate Street.
- Patron
- Saint William of Vercelli (William of Montevergine)
- Rector
- Reverend Peter Oyenugba, MSP
- Diocese
- Diocese of Savannah (Albany Deanery)
Why belong here
Saint William offers the only Catholic Mass within Fitzgerald and Ben Hill County, making it a vital spiritual home for local Catholics and a welcoming stop for visitors passing through south-central Georgia. Worship is bilingual (English and Spanish), reflecting the area's growing Hispanic Catholic community, and the parish is directly tied to Our Divine Saviour in Tifton, which provides full sacramental support — including confession, Eucharistic adoration, marriage preparation, and formation. The mission describes itself as a growing family of faith with open arms for newcomers, seekers, and returning Catholics.
Mass times at Saint William
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday: 4:00 PM – 4:45 PM (at Our Divine Saviour, Tifton)
- Friday: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (at Our Divine Saviour, Tifton)
- By appointment
Adoration times
- Friday: 6:00 PM – 7:00 PM (at Our Divine Saviour, Tifton)
- First Friday of the month: 24 hours of Adoration beginning after the 12:00 PM Mass (at Our Divine Saviour, Tifton)
About St. William Catholic Mission
St. William is a Roman Catholic mission church serving Fitzgerald and Ben Hill County in south-central Georgia. Since 2024 it has been cared for as a mission of Our Divine Saviour Catholic Church in Tifton, sharing clergy and a single sacramental schedule. The parish celebrates one Sunday Mass each week and identifies itself as a small but growing faith family.
History & Affiliation
For many years St. William was administered from St. Paul Catholic Church in Douglas as part of that parish's mission outreach, together with the Holy Family mission in Willacoochee. In 2024 the Diocese of Savannah re-assigned St. William to become a mission of Our Divine Saviour in Tifton. This move brought new pastoral leadership — Reverend Peter Oyenugba, MSP — and a refreshed Sunday schedule.
- Long-standing mission of St. Paul Catholic Church, Douglas
- Re-assigned in 2024 as a mission of Our Divine Saviour, Tifton
- Listed in the Diocese of Savannah directory under the Albany Deanery
Patron Saint
The mission is named for Saint William of Vercelli (also known as William of Montevergine or William the Abbot), a 12th-century Italian hermit who founded the Congregation of Montevergine, sometimes called the Williamites. Born in 1085 and remembered for his ascetic life, his miracles, and his foundation of monasteries across southern Italy under the patronage of King Roger II of Sicily, he is venerated as a saint of the Roman Catholic Church. His feast day is June 25.
- Feast day: June 25
- Also known as William of Montevergine / William the Abbot
- Patron of Irpinia, Italy
- Symbols: wolf and crosier
Mass & Worship Schedule
Sunday Mass is celebrated at 11:30 AM in a bilingual English/Spanish format. Prior to the 2024 re-assignment, the mission's Mass was scheduled for Sunday evening at 5:00 PM. Weekday Masses, additional Vigil Masses, and a 2:00 PM Sunday Mass in Spanish are available at the host parish, Our Divine Saviour in Tifton.
- Sunday 11:30 AM — St. William, Fitzgerald (Bilingual)
- Saturday Vigil 5:00 PM — Our Divine Saviour, Tifton
- Saturday Vigil 7:00 PM (Spanish) — Our Divine Saviour, Tifton
- Sunday 9:00 AM — Our Divine Saviour, Tifton
- Sunday 2:00 PM (Spanish) — Our Divine Saviour, Tifton
- Daily Mass Tuesday 5:30 PM, Wednesday 8:00 AM, Thursday 8:00 AM, Friday 5:30 PM (First Friday: 12:00 PM only)
Sacraments
The seven sacraments of the Catholic Church — Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Communion, Penance, Marriage, Holy Orders, and the Anointing of the Sick — are coordinated through Our Divine Saviour in Tifton, which serves as the host parish for St. William. Confession is offered Saturday afternoons and Friday evenings, with additional times by appointment.
- Penance / Confession: Saturday 4:00–4:45 PM and Friday 6:00–7:00 PM (at Our Divine Saviour, Tifton); by appointment
- Eucharistic Adoration: Friday 6:00–7:00 PM (24 hours on First Friday)
- Marriage and other sacramental prep coordinated through the parish office
Devotions & Liturgical Life
Beyond the Sunday Eucharist, the parish community gathers for Eucharistic Adoration each Friday evening and for the Stations of the Cross during Lent. First Fridays bring an extended 24-hour period of Adoration following the midday Mass at the host parish.
- Stations of the Cross — Fridays in Lent, 5:00 PM (English) and 7:00 PM (Spanish) at Our Divine Saviour, Tifton
- First Friday 24-hour Adoration
- Bilingual Sunday Mass reflecting the community's English and Spanish-speaking faithful
Clergy & Pastoral Leadership
St. William is pastored together with Our Divine Saviour by Reverend Peter Oyenugba, MSP, who also serves as the public face of the parish through the host parish's website and 'Message from Our Pastor' page. He is identified as pastor of both Our Divine Saviour (Tifton) and St. William (Fitzgerald) in the Diocese of Savannah directory.
- Reverend Peter Oyenugba, MSP — Pastor (Our Divine Saviour & St. William)
- Member of MSP (Missionary Society of St. Paul) from Nigeria
- Pastoral contact via Our Divine Saviour parish office, 229-382-4600
Visit, Contact & Location
Visitors are warmly welcomed at the 11:30 AM Sunday Mass. Inquiries, sacramental scheduling, and requests for confession or anointing can be directed to the parish office through Our Divine Saviour in Tifton.
- Address: 715 South Merrimac Drive, Fitzgerald, GA 31750 (at Confederate Street)
- Parish office phone: 229-382-4600
- Email: [email protected]
- Diocese: Diocese of Savannah — Albany Deanery
- Website: odstifton.org/st-william