Bishop-elect John Hartmayer, OFM Conv., has history on his side.
In the 16th century, when Catholics arrived on soil that would become the state of Georgia, the Franciscans maintained a network of missions stretching from St. Augustine to the Savannah River. Hartmayer, 59, is a friar in the order of the Conceptual Franciscans, and is the former pastor of St. John Vianney in Lithia Springs, Ga.
On Tuesday, Hartmayer will be ordained and installed as the 14th bishop of the Diocese of Savannah, which includes Columbus. He’s only the second person in his order to be named a bishop in the U.S. in a century.
In a recent phone interview from Savannah, Hartmayer said he likes the lay of the land so far.
“I’m very pleased at what I see of Savannah and the diocese. They have welcomed me very warmly. I was at a priest retreat my first week (in Florida), with 80 priests from the diocese. We had a time of prayer and reflection. It was a chance to spend time with them so they could meet me and see who I am.”
Over the next two months, Hartmayer will be traversing the diocese to meet with priests and other parish leaders in the seven deaneries, or geographical areas. He’ll be in Columbus in November. The diocese extends from Columbus to Macon to Augusta and all towns south. The diocese’s 77,287 Catholics reside in 90 counties.
Hartmayer’s order is one of the three branches of the First Order of St. Francis. The word Conventual comes from the Latin convenire, “to come together”; the friars live together in “convents” or friaries. Hartmayer said moving away from these close-knit communities will be an adjustment for him.
“It’s a different lifestyle. I’ll have more time alone than in my whole life, although I’ll be around the diocese a lot.”
He follows the Most. Rev. J. Kevin Boland, who’s retired.
One trait of Bishop Boland’s he aims to emulate: a ministry of presence -- being out among the people as much as possible, “so they don’t feel so detached or alienated, even though they may be three or four hours away (from Savannah). ... Bishop Boland had a personal philosophy about that. He put an emphasis on being present, no matter where it was.”
He didn’t know Bishop Boland -- now Bishop Emeritus of the diocese -- before his summer appointment by Pope Benedict XVI.
“I didn’t know him at all. ... We arranged to meet for two days at his residence. I have grown to appreciate Bishop Boland and the kind of priest and bishop he has been for more than 50 years. It’s obvious the people love him. It’s a wonderful relationship I’m witnessing.”
Boland, who before his own appointment as bishop, was pastor of St. Anne’s Church in Columbus. He’s staying in Savannah.
“He says he’ll assist me in any way he’s able,” Hartmayer said. “I’ll enjoy having him around for support as I’m charting a course.”
At Tuesday’s service, Hartmayer will be ordained by Boland; the Archbishop of Atlanta, Wilton Gregory, who also will preach; and Atlanta Auxiliary Bishop Luis Zarama.
Hartmayer turns 60 on Nov. 21. Born in Buffalo, N.Y., he’s the son of Sally and the late John W. Hartmayer. He has two brothers and one sister. Hartmayer was ordained May 5, 1979, at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Albany, N.Y. He joined the Conventual Franciscan Friars at the novitiate of St. Joseph Cupertino in Ellicott City, Md., in 1969. He professed his solemn vows in 1973.
Hartmayer has a master of education in secondary Catholic school administration from Boston College (1992); a master of arts in pastoral counseling, Emmanuel College, Boston (1980); a master of theology, St. Anthony-on-Hudson Seminary in Rensselaer, N.Y. (1979); and a bachelor of science degree in philosophy, St. Hyacinth College and Seminary, Granby, Mass. (1974).
One of his first orders of business is getting to know the people he’ll lead.
“I’ve never been a bishop before and I have to, first of all, become familiar with the priests and the people. This first year will be dedicated to traveling and spending time in the parishes and with the leadership. Based on these listening sessions, I will begin building an agenda,” he said.
Hartmayer didn’t know he was being considered for the job.
When the phone rang July 5, it was the U.S. representative to the Vatican calling from Washington, D.C. Archbishop Pietro Sambi said he’d been chosen, and Hartmayer accepted.
When the Pope selects you, the typical answer is yes.
“It’s difficult to say no, unless there would be a compelling reason, such as a question of health. ... It’s a recognition of the move of the Holy Spirit. My approach in the past has been to consider requests as a request of the Holy Spirit; and I’ve never been disappointed in all my appointments. I’ve grown from every one of them.”
He had only been at the church in Lithia Springs, an Atlanta suburb, for a year. He’d previously served other parishes in the archdiocese.
Hartmayer jumped into a controversial case recently, as he was among the four Catholic bishops in Georgia to sign a letter pleading for the life of Troy Davis. Davis ultimately was executed on Sept. 21.
“What we’re trying to do in Georgia is to re-emphasize the belief in the sanctity of human life, even those lives used to destroy or kill others. There is no justice in taking another life. That was an old way of justice in the scriptures. Christ came to give us a new law. ... We are being consistent with the sanctity of all human life. Capital punishment doesn’t serve the community or the society, nor is it in keeping with the Catholic Church’s teaching.
“It has nothing to do with the person’s guilt or innocence -- we were not making a statement about his guilt or innocence -- but with allowing the state to take a life.”
