Bishop Gregory J. Hartmayer, OFM Conv. conferred the Gartland Service Award on 79 South Georgians on the Feast of Christ the King, November 25, in the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist in Savannah.

Pastors of Catholic parishes nominate parishioners for the award, named for the first bishop of the Diocese of Savannah. The recipients are parishioners who have worked quietly behind the scenes to make a difference in parish and community life.

All reflect the life of service of Francis X. Gartland, who was named bishop of the newly-erected Diocese of Savannah in July 1850. When the yellow fever struck the City of Savannah he traveled from house to house tirelessly administering the sacraments to the sick until he himself caught the fever. He died September 20, 1854. He was 49 years old.

The gold and blue Gartland Award pin combines elements of Bishop Gartland’s episcopal coat of arms with elements form the shield of the Diocese of Savannah. His motto, Vincit Veritas, or “Truth conquers,” is inscribed on the pin.

You can find a photo gallery with some of the award recipients here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/2it7qDoEpn1ieitA8

The 2018 Gartland Award recipients are:

Albany Deanery

Joan Burke
Judy Young
Church of the Incarnation, Donalsonville

Mary Byrd
Martha Mascorro
Our Divine Saviour, Tifton
 
Rosario Elena
Eugenie Whiddon
St. Joseph the Worker, Bainbridge
 
Bonnie Mallard
Salvador Rodriguez
St. Mary, Americus

Candace Herrick
Charles Herrick
St. Theresa, Cordele 

Augusta Deanery

William Evans
Most Holy Trinity, Augusta

Laura Bylinowski
Pauline Chiles
Sacred Heart, Waynesboro

Eleanor Marie Spivey
Greg J. Yonchak
St. Joan of Arc, Lousville
 
Betty Maysonet
Freddie Maysonet
St. Joseph, Augusta

Marilyn Moore
John R. Scherer, Jr.
St. Mary on the Hill, Augusta

Robert Prange
Ruth Smith
St. Teresa of Avila, Grovetown

Columbus Deanery

Angela Hightower
Roy Hightower
Christ the King, Pine Mountain

Carroll E. Thebaud
Holy Family, Columbus 

Macon Deanery

Maria del Carmen Morales
Henry O’Neill
Sacred Heart, Warner Robins

Glenn Carter
Lisa Carter
St. Joseph, Macon
 
Marion B. Clark
Rosalyn Roderick
St. Peter Claver, Macon 

Savannah Deanery

Sr. M. Lillian Quadrella, R.S.M.
Paige Ryan
Blessed Sacrament, Savannah

Allen Janacek
Beth Whelan
Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, Savannah

Kay Dolan
Judi Gast
Corpus Christi, Pooler

Erwin Cruz
Allan L. Marks
Our Lady of Lourdes, Port Wentworth

Mary Moore
Florence Nixson
Resurrection of Our Lord, Savannah

Sergio Hernandez
Eloisa Hernández-Newman
Sacred Heart, Savannah

Sonja-Lee Pollino
Vance Schuler
St. Anne, Richmond Hill

Fletcher Cross
Phoebe Williams
St. Benedict the Moor, Savannah

Leopoldo Rodriguez-Berlanga
Dianne Roe
St. Boniface, Springfield

Martin Estrada
Ramona Lozano
St. Frances Cabrini, Savannah

Betty Jayne Hosti Hendrix
Andrew Watson
St. Michael, Tybee Island

Angie Lyon Chu
John Hubert
St. Peter the Apostle, Savannah 

Statesboro Deanery

Carolina Quiterio-Dajui
Ricardo Dajui
Holy Family, Metter

Julie Hopkins
Hilda Self
Sacred Heart, Vidalia

Dr. Donald E. Slater
Helen Slater
St. Matthew, Statesboro 

Valdosta-Brunswick Deanery

Magdalena Guerrero
Lizeth Tinajero
Holy Family, Willacoochee

Jane Heying
Nativity of Our Lady, Darien

Antonio Rivera
San Jose Mission, Lake Park

Rose Mary Jones
Susan Layman
St. Francis Xavier, Brunswick

Bill Register
Kathy Register
St. John the Evangelist, Valdosta

Lacey Gruver
Jason Strickland
St. Joseph, Waycross

Daniel Ross
Marlo Ross
St. Paul, Douglas

Ione Belgrave Phillips
Christine Williams
St. Stephen First Martyr, Hinesville

Maribel Mendoza
Phyllis Purvis
St. William, Fitzgerald

Steve Bristol
Lois Carroll Cutia
St. William, St. Simons Island 

Diocese of Savannah

Doug Ramsey