Peace and all good things!

The writer of Psalm 116 asks the question: “What shall I return to the Lord for all that He has given to me?” This is the theme I have chosen for this year’s Bishop’s Annual Appeal. I find myself asking this same question all the time in my prayers.

As I travel throughout the diocese and visit our parishes and missions, I am always inspired to be more generous because I witness your dedication and commitment to prayer, the sacraments, and service. I feel your prayers as I strive to shepherd the priests, deacons, consecrated religious, seminarians and the lay faithful in our diocese. God has truly blessed us.

The greatest joy that I experience as your bishop is to celebrate the sacraments with you, especially the Sacrament of the Eucharist. This is how we can best return to the Lord for what He has given to us. Through the Sunday Mass, we gather as a community and we offer the greatest thanksgiving prayer of the Church, the Eucharist.

Some people in our community are lost, feel excluded, and are in pain and need our assistance. Through our prayerful service to them, we will become more dedicated Disciples of Christ. We are called to serve one another, to wash each other’s feet.

I need your help in giving back to God for what He has given to us. Please support this year’s Bishop’s Annual Appeal with a sacrificial gift to help me, in your name, to provide education and formation of our seminarians, to assist in charity to the poor and to educate our children and grandchildren in the faith.

Please know of my love and concern for each of you.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Most Reverend Gregory J. Hartmayer, OFM Conv.
Bishop of Savannah

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