Archbishop Hartmayer presides over Mass of thanksgiving for Georgia Martyrs

Archbishop Gregory J. Hartmayer presided over a Mass of thanksgiving on Nov. 1 at the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist to celebrate the Oct. 31 beatification of five Franciscans known as the Georgia Martyrs. The Mass took place on the solemnity of All Saints in Savannah, Georgia.

During his remarks, Archbishop Hartmayer, a Conventual Franciscan friar, thanked Bishop Stephen D. Parkes, previous leaders of the Savannah diocese, and Franciscan leaders for their work on the cause. He noted that Pope Francis approved the cause in January of last year and Cardinal Frank Leo, acting as legate for Pope Leo XIV, proclaimed the beatification on Oct. 31.

Archbishop Hartmayer, who served as bishop of Savannah from 2011 until his appointment to Atlanta in 2020, said he worked with local Church leaders to advance the cause of Blessed Pedro de Corpa and his companions. The martyrs died in 1597 on the shores of Brunswick.