Gregory John Hartmayer

Last updated

His Excellency, The Most Reverend

Gregory John Hartmayer

OFM Conv.
Archbishop of Atlanta
Archbishop Gregory Hartmayer.jpg
Church Catholic
See Atlanta
AppointedMarch 5, 2020
InstalledMay 6, 2020
Predecessor Wilton Daniel Gregory
Previous post(s) Bishop of Savannah
(2011-2020)
Orders
OrdinationMay 5, 1979
by  Howard James Hubbard
ConsecrationOctober 18, 2011
by  Wilton Daniel Gregory,
J. Kevin Boland, and Luis Rafael Zarama
Personal details
Born (1951-11-21) November 21, 1951 (age 73)
Buffalo, New York,
United States
ParentsJohn W. & Sally Hartmayer
Education Boston College
Emmanuel College
St. Anthony-on-Hudson Seminary
St. Hyacinth College and Seminary
Motto
  • Pax et bonum
  • (English: Peace and good)
Styles of
Gregory John Hartmayer
Coat of arms of Gregory John Hartmayer (Atlanta).svg
Reference style
Spoken style Your Excellency
Religious style Archbishop

Gregory John Hartmayer, O.F.M. Conv. (born November 21, 1951) is an American Catholic prelate who has served as Archbishop of Atlanta since 2020. From 2011 to 2020, Hartmayer served as Bishop of Savannah. He is a member of the Order of Friars Minor Conventual.

Contents

Biography

Early life

Gregory Hartmayer was born on November 21, 1951, in Buffalo, New York, one of four children of John and Sally Hartmayer. [1] He has two brothers and a sister. He was raised in Tonawanda, New York, attending St. Amelia School in that town. Hartmayer graduated from Cardinal O'Hara High School in Tonawanda in 1969. [2] [3]

After graduating from high school, Hartmayer joined the Order of Friars Minor Conventual at the St. Joseph Cupertino Friary in Ellicott City, Maryland. [4] He took his simple vows on August 15, 1970, and made solemn profession on August 15, 1973. [5] Hartmayer studied at St. Hyacinth College and Seminary in Granby, Massachusetts, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science in philosophy degree in 1974. [1] [3]

From 1974 to 1975, Hartmeyer taught at Archbishop Curley High School in Baltimore, Maryland. [1] He returned to New York to study at St. Anthony-on-Hudson Seminary in Rensselaer, New York, receiving a Master of Theology degree in 1979. [4] [3]

Ordination and ministry

Hartmayer was ordained to the priesthood at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany, New York, for the Conventual Franciscans by Bishop Howard J. Hubbard on May 5, 1979. [6] The Franciscans then assigned Hartmayer to Archbishop Curley High School, where he served as a guidance counselor and teacher (1979 to 1985) and as principal (1985 to 1988). [4] In 1980, Hartmayer earned a Master of Arts degree in pastoral counseling from Emmanuel College in Boston. [1]

The Franciscans in 1988 transferred Hartmeyer back to Tonawanda to serve as principal of Cardinal O'Hara High School. After one year there, he became principal of St. Francis High School in Athol Springs, New York in 1989. [1] Hartmayer received a Master of Education degree in secondary Catholic school administration from Boston College in 1992. [1]

Following a three-month sabbatical at St. Patrick Seminary in Menlo Park, California, Hartmayer briefly served as an instructor at John Carroll Catholic High School in Fort Pierce, Florida, in 1995. [4] In August of that year, the Franciscans assigned Hartmeyer as pastor of St. Philip Benizi Parish in Jonesboro, Georgia. [1] He became pastor of St. John Vianney Parish in Lithia Springs, Georgia, in July 2010. [2]

Bishop of Savannah

Hartmayer's coat of arms as bishop of Savannah Coat of arms of Gregory John Hartmayer.svg
Hartmayer's coat of arms as bishop of Savannah

On July 19, 2011, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Hartmayer as bishop of Savannah. [7] His episcopal consecration took place on October 18, 2011, at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Savannah, Georgia. [8] His principal consecrator was Archbishop Wilton Gregory, with Bishops J. Kevin Boland and Luis Zarama as co-consecrators.

In November 2018, Hartmayer released a list of 16 clergy from the diocese with credible accusations of sexual abuse of minors. [9]

While serving in Savannah, Hartmayer administered the renovations of two parish schools and the construction of three new churches, one new parish, and one new high school. [3]

Hartmayer was appointed to the board of directors of the National Catholic Educational Association in 2019. He was appointed chair of the board in 2024. [10]

Archbishop of Atlanta

Hartmayer was installed as archbishop of Atlanta on May 6, 2020, in the Cathedral of Christ the King in Atlanta. [11] The ceremony was held behind closed doors, with only a few attendees due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [12] Church journalist Rocco Palmo stated that Hartmayer was Gregory's "chosen successor." [13]

When the Satanic Temple of Atlanta scheduled a black mass in that city in October 2024, Hartmayer announced possible legal action if the organizers planned to use consecrated host in the ceremony. However, they assured the archdiocese that they did not have any sacramental bread, nor were planning to obtain any. [14]

Hartmayer is a member of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Committee on Communications and the Committee on National Collections and chair of the Subcommittee on the Catholic Communication Campaign. [3]

Viewpoints

Immigration

In June 2020, Hartmayer expressed his approval of the US Supreme Court decision that prevented the Trump Administration from terminating the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program for the children of undocumented immigrants. [15]

Racism

In November 2021, Hartmeyer commented on the conviction of three white men in the murder of Ahmaud Arbery, an African-American man, in Glynn County, Georgia. [16]

War

In 2023, Hartmayer participated in a ceremony with Jewish and Muslim religious leaders to commemorate the dead from the conflicts in Israel, Gaza and Ukraine. [17]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Biography of Bishop–elect Gregory J. Hartmayer, OFM Conv". Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah . Archived from the original on October 7, 2011.
  2. 1 2 Habuda, Janice L. (July 20, 2011). "Tonawanda native is next bishop for Georgia diocese". The Buffalo News .
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Archbishop Gregory John Hartmayer, OFM Conv. | Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Atlanta | Atlanta, GA" . Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Pope Accepts Resignation of Cardinal Rigali of Philadelphia, Names Archbishop Chaput to Succeed Him; Accepts Resignation of Bishop Boland of Savannah, Georgia, Names Franciscan Pastor to Succeed Him". United States Conference of Catholic Bishops . July 19, 2011.
  5. ↑ "Rinunce e Nomine, 05.03.2020". Holy See Press Office (Press release) (in Italian). March 5, 2020. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  6. ↑ "Bishop Gregory John Hartmayer, O.F.M. Conv". Catholic-Hierarchy.org .
  7. ↑ "Rinunce e Nomine, 19.07.2011". Holy See Press Office (Press release) (in Italian). July 19, 2011. Retrieved March 5, 2020.
  8. ↑ King, Barbara D. (July 19, 2011). "Pope Accepts Resignation of Bishop Boland; Appoints Franciscan Father Gregory Hartmayer". Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah (Press release). Archived from the original on October 7, 2011. Retrieved July 19, 2011.
  9. ↑ Skutch, Jan. "Savannah bishop releases accused priest child abuser names". Savannah Morning News. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Hartmayer to head National Catholic Educational Association board". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  11. ↑ Martin, Jeff (May 6, 2020). "Former Savannah bishop installed in Atlanta as archbishop – at a distance". Savannah Morning News . Associated Press. Archived from the original on March 6, 2021. Retrieved May 9, 2020.
  12. ↑ Nelson, Andrew; Smith, Samantha (May 7, 2020). "Atlanta's new archbishop is installed in quiet ceremony". Catholic News Service . Archived from the original on May 14, 2020. Retrieved May 12, 2020.
  13. ↑ Palmo, Rocco [@roccopalmo] (November 17, 2020). " ... Atlanta's +Hartmayer:  ... Card Wilton's chosen successor" (Tweet). Archived from the original on November 17, 2020 – via Twitter.
  14. ↑ "Satanic Temple denies it intends to desecrate the Eucharist". Catholic News Agency. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  15. ↑ Golden, Nichole (June 19, 2020). "Archbishop Gregory J. Hartmayer supports Dreamers in June 19 statement - Georgia Bulletin". georgiabulletin.org. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
  16. ↑ "Archbishop: Arbery verdict does not bring him back, but advances justice". Catholic Review. November 26, 2021. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
  17. ↑ Golden, Nichole (December 22, 2023). "Religious leaders join Archbishop Hartmayer to pray for peace - Georgia Bulletin". georgiabulletin.org. Retrieved September 17, 2024.
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Archbishop of Atlanta
2020–present		Succeeded by
Incumbent
Preceded by Bishop of Savannah
2011–2020		Succeeded by
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.