Every year since 2000, the Diocese of Savannah has recognized long-standing service to the Catholic Church in south Georgia by conferring the Bishop Francis X. Gartland Service Award on honorees nominated by their pastors. In this way, the Diocese expresses its gratitude to those who serve within it. This year, Bishop Gregory J. Hartmayer, OFM Conv. will bestow the Gartland Award on 84 nominees at the 11:30 a.m. Mass on the Solemnity of Christ the King in the Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist, Savannah. The award is named after the first Bishop of Savannah, who died of yellow fever contracted from those to whom he ministered, in 1854. This year’s recipients are listed below by deanery and parish.