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Gregory John Hartmayer
American prelate of the Catholic Church From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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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.
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Biography
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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, receiving his early education at 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, commonly known as the Conventual Franciscans, at the St. Joseph Cupertino Friary in Ellicott City, Maryland.[4] He took his simple vows as a Conventual Franciscan friar on August 15, 1970, before making his solemn profession on August 15, 1973.[5] Hartmayer also 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 then 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
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.
The diocese reached a settlement in 2016 of $4.5 million with a man who accused Reverend Wayland Brown, a diocesan priest, of sexually abusing him in the 1980s. Authorities could not criminally charge Brown with this offense due to the statute of limitations on these crimes. Already defrocked, Brown was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2018 on other sexual abuse charges.[9]
In November 2018, Hartmayer released a list of 16 clergy from the diocese with credible accusations of sexual abuse of minors.[10] When Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr announced an investigation in May 2019 into sexual abuse claims against Catholic clergy in Georgia, Hartmayer pledged the full support of the diocese.[11]
While serving in Savannah, Hartmayer renovated two parish schools, built three new churches, erected a new parish and opened a new high school. He also attended school and parish celebrations throughout the diocese[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.[12]
Archbishop of Atlanta
Pope Francis appointed Hartmayer as archbishop of Atlanta on March 5, 2020.[5][13] He was installed on May 6, 2020, in the Cathedral of Christ the King in Atlanta.[14] The ceremony was held behind closed doors, with only a few attendees due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[15] Church journalist Rocco Palmo stated that Hartmayer was Gregory's "chosen successor."[16]
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.[17]
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]
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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. He stated:
The Catholic Church will continue to accompany our brothers and sisters on this journey and to pursue solutions to the complex issues of migration, immigration refugee resettlement and securing our borders.[18]
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:[19]
“We are called to acknowledge and root out racism in our neighborhoods, schools, workplaces and yes, even our churches. I hope you will join me in prayer, peace and restorative works of justice in this cause of respecting the human dignity of all.”[19]
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.[20]
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See also
References
External links
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