The Diocese of Savannah Archives & Records Management Office is the home for records from a number of closed or merged schools, parishes, and other institutions. Individuals who require sacramental certificates for continuing sacraments, copies of school transcripts, or other records must submit their requests using the appropriate forms, along with a copy of their current state-issued photo ID. Forms must have an original ink signature from the requestor, per Georgia State Law, and may be mailed to the Archives & Records Office.
SACRAMENTAL CERTIFICATE REQUESTS
We continue to care for these records like a parish would, updating sacramental notations and issuing certificates. The following is a list of sacramental registers held by the Diocesan Archives & Records Management Office:
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Bishop's Confirmation Register, 1947-1969 (includes confirmations performed on GA military bases)
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Camp Villa Marie, Savannah
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Camp Wheeler, Macon
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St. Patrick's Parish, Augusta
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St. Patrick's Parish, Savannah
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Immaculate Conception Parish, Augusta
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Most Pure Heart of Mary Parish/St. Mary's Parish, Savannah
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Nativity of Our Lord Parish, Savannah
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Sacred Heart Parish, Augusta
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St. Stanislaus Chapel, Vineville/Macon, 1888-1912
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Willacoochie Missions, 1923-1937
REQUESTING SACRAMENTAL CERTIFICATES
You may require a sealed sacramental certificate with notations for a continuation of your sacraments (for first communion, confirmation, marriage, or to be the sponsor of a sacrament) or for proof of identity. To request certificates from an open Diocesan Parish, please contact the parish directly.
The Archives & Records Management Office responds to requests from closed Diocesan Parishes. Please complete a Sacramental Certificate Request Form and mail it to us with a photocopy of a valid id (driver's license, passport, etc.). We will not release certificates until we have those two items in hand and there is no administrative fee for the request.
You may only request your own sacraments unless you are a legal guardian or have power of attorney. Please allow 4-6 weeks for a response.
If you are a parish or Diocesan Official (Chancellor, Marriage Tribunal, etc.) requesting a sealed sacramental certificate for a continuation of Church sacraments, you may request one using the Sacramental Certificate Request Form. No identification or fee is necessary as long as the certificate is mailed directly to the parish.
If you or a family member were active military when you received any sacraments on a US military base in South or Middle Georgia (such as Ft. Benning, Columbus; Ft. Gordon, Augusta; Ft. Stewart/Hunter Army Airfield, Hinesville/Savannah; Moody Air Force Base, Valdosta; Robins Air Force Base, Warner Robins; US Marine Logistics Supply Base, Albany; and Naval Submarine Base, Kings Bay) those records are kept by the Archdiocese for Military Services. Their website has instructions on how to request sacramental certificates.
Sacraments for non-active military performed at base chapels are recorded at the closest parish. Please contact the Archives & Records Office for help obtaining a sacramental certificate for these circumstances.
Los certificados sacramentales sellados y con anotaciones son requeridos para poder recibir otros sacramentos (primera comunión, confirmación, matrimonio) para ser padrino o madrina de un sacramento o como prueba de identidad. Si la parroquia donde usted recibió originalmente el sacramento sigue activa, comuníquese directamente con ella para solicitar el Certificado Sacramental.
La Oficina de Administración de Archivos y Registros solo extiende certificados para aquellas personas que recibieron sus sacramentos en una parroquia inactiva o cerrada dentro de la Diócesis de Savannah. Si ese es su caso, por favor complete el Formulario de Solicitud de Certificado Sacramental y envíela por correo regular junto con la fotocopia de una forma de identificación válida (licencia de conducir, pasaporte, etc.). El certificado solo se enviará hasta que la oficina reciba la documentación completa y el pago administrativo correspondiente.
Un individuo solo puede solicitar sus propios sacramentos. Solo se pueden recibir solicitudes de terceros si estos son tutores legales o poseen un poder legal. Tome en cuenta que el proceso toma de 4 a 6 semanas.
El Departamento de Archivos y Registros no aceptará ninguna solicitud de certificados sacramentales de terceros (padres, cónyuges, amigos, etc.) para personas mayores de edad (18 años o más), a menos que dicha solicitud provenga de parroquias o funcionarios diocesanos.
SCHOOL TRANSCRIPT REQUESTS
CERTIFIED COPIES OF A STUDENT'S RECORD AND SCHOOL VERIFICATION REQUESTS
A certified copy of a student's records from the above schools may be requested at any time. Student records are protected by the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA - 20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 CFR Part 99) as well as privacy restrictions such as the Privacy Act (5 U.S.C. § 552a). Students and their guardians have a right to see, correct, and control access to their student records.
As record holders, we are required to grant access to a student’s own records or mail out copies of the file in a timely manner. A certified copy of a student’s file may not be released to a third party (another school, family member that is not a guardian, friend, courts, etc.) without the consent of the guardian or student (once the age of majority is reached), with the exception of the third parties named in FERPA (34 CFR § 99.31):
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School officials with legitimate educational interest
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Other schools to which a student is transferring
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Specified officials for audit or evaluation purposes
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Appropriate parties in connection with financial aid to a student
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Organizations conducting certain studies for or on behalf of the school
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Accrediting organizations
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To comply with a judicial order or lawfully issued subpoena
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Appropriate officials in cases of health and safety emergencies
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State and local authorities, within a juvenile justice system, pursuant to specific State law
HOW DO I VERIFY MY EDUCATION OR GET A COPY OF MY RECORD?
Please complete the School Transcript and Verification Request Form and mail it to us with a copy of a current state-issued identification card (for example, a driver's license or passport). No fees are required for an individual requesting their own record. A $25 fee is required for a third-party request.
ST. MARY'S HOME (SAVANNAH) RECORDS
A HISTORY OF ST. MARY'S HOME, SAVANNAH
Begun in 1875 by the Sisters of Mercy at Mrs. Mary Lama's summer home on White Bluff Road (9 miles outside the city of Savannah), the orphanage was moved to the 1600 block of Habersham Street until it settled at its final location on Victory Drive in 1938. The building was designed by Savannah architect Cletus W. Bergen and housed girls only until a 1967 renovation (by Savannah architect Ben Ritzert) to make space for boys. The Sisters of Mercy faithfully served children in need, collaborating with the state of Georgia from the 1980's until changes in federal and state laws governing child care agencies reduced placement at St. Mary's Home and limited funding made residential services no longer feasible.
In 2015, at the opening of the Catholic Pastoral Center, the Diocese of Savannah honored the work of the Sisters of Mercy with a Georgia Historical Marker commemorating their ministry.
ACCESS TO ST. MARY'S HOME RECORDS
Upon its closure, the records, photos, and artifacts from St. Mary's Home were deposited in the Diocesan Archives. Most records are not yet ready for public research; however, the Diocesan Archives is honoring requests for access to residential client files from former residents. Please review our policy before completing a Client File Request Form. We will schedule an appointment with the former resident and a support person of their choice to view their file. No copies of the file will be sent to requestors. We are only honoring requests from the former residents themselves, not genealogy requests from third parties or non-residents such as family members at this time. Please check back on our website for policy updates.
