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Deacon Frank Mathis
SSJ. Catholic Social Services
(CSS) is responsible for the overall
administration, organization and
coordination of social services and
social action in the Diocese of
Savannah. CSS is concerned with
the development of people via edu
cation, motivation, organization
and empowerment. The office
coordinates the deanery and parish
programs to reach out to the poor.
Kerry Evans is secretary.
Office of African American
Ministry
Director: Deacon Frank Mathis.
The Office of African American
Ministry helps the Bishop to pro
vide a more effective ministry
within the African American
Community of south Georgia, and
to facilitate the participation of
African American Catholics in the
mission of the Church.
Diocesan Tribunal
The Tribunal personnel include
Father Jeremiah J. McCarthy, JCL,
as Judicial Vicar, assisted by Ms.
Catherine A. Gilligan, JCL, as
Associate Judge. Father J. Gerard
Schreck, JCD, is Defender of the
Bond, assisted by Father Herbert J.
Wellmeier, The Tribunal notaries
are Mrs. Carole B. Barras and Mrs.
Kathleen Trahan. The Savannah
Tribunal utilizes the services of
William B. Spinks, PhD, and Julie
A. Burke, PhD, as medical consul
tants. While canonically broader in
its scope, the Diocesan Tribunal
Father Jeremiah J. McCarthy
Diocese of Sovonnoh Annual Accountability Report, 1998-99
Deacon George Foster Father Brett A. Brannen Father Michael H. Smith
for the Diocese of Savannah ordi
narily conducts trials or hears cases
that relate only to the nullity of a
marriage. The Diocesan Tribunal is
governed by ecclesiastical law on
the procedures to be followed in
the various types of matrimonial
cases that are presented to it for a
judgment.
Office of Natural Family
Planning (NFP)
Program Director: Sally Kennedy;
Staff Assistant: Mrs. Rita Gagli-
ano. The Office of Natural Family
Planning coordinates and monitors
the efforts of the NFP practitioners
throughout the diocese, ensuring
that the instruction being provided
meets the minimum standards
established by the Diocesan
Development Program (DDP) for
NFP, a program of the NCCB
Secretariat for Pro-Life Activities.
In addition, the office is engaged in
outreach ministry to marriage
preparation, RCIA, and other
instructional programs where NFP
is appropriate.
Office of Communications
Director of Communications:
Barbara D. King. The Commu
nications Office handles communi
cations between the Diocese and
both the Catholic and secular com
munities in south Georgia and
throughout the world. The Dio
cesan Communications Commis
sion was formed in 1980 to advise
the Bishop and aid the Communi
cations Office in providing the best
possible liaison between the
Church and the media. Members,
who represent a cross-section of
the media, meet twice a year. Patri
cia Hafferman is administrative
assistant in this office.
Office of Technology Services
Coordinator: Mr. James B. Knapp,
Jr. As a branch of the Office of
Communications, this office over
sees the use of digital and Internet
media within the Diocese, with the
aim of linking up parishes and
schools into a diocesan network.
The Southern Cross
Editor: Father Douglas K. Clark.
The Southern Cross, the weekly
diocesan newspaper, is the chief
tool for communications within the
diocese. The 12-page, tabloid-size
paper features local, national and
international news of interest to
Catholics, original commentary
and a “Faith Alive!” catechetical
section. Ms. Rachel Harris is assis
tant to the editor.
Office of Hispanic Ministry
Director: Father Michael H. Smith.
The purpose of the Office of
Hispanic Ministry is to plan pro
grams to increase involvement of
our Diocese in the realization of
the National Pastoral Plan for
Hispanic Ministry.
Office of Vocations
Father Brett A. Brannen is dioce
san Director of Vocations, respon
sible for the recruitment and super
vision of candidates for the dioce
san priesthood. He is also the liai
son with religious orders for poten
tial religious vocations in the dio
cese. Through regular retreats and
meetings, the Vocations Director
gets to know young people whom
God may be calling and puts them
in touch with the bishop. He also
oversees the progress of accepted
candidates for the priesthood as
they are formed in various semi
naries. Aaron Killips assists Father
Brannen. Father John O’Brien is
Director of Vocations for Irish
Seminarians.
Office of the Permanent
Diaconate
Deacon George Foster and his
wife, Georgia, are Directors of the
Permanent Diaconate Program.
They provide support and continu
ing spiritual and formational pro
grams for the permanent deacons
already serving in the Diocese of
Savannah and for their wives. They
also coordinate the recruitment and
screening of potential candidates
for this ministry and oversee their
spiritual and pastoral formation.
The academic formation of the cur
rent class of deacon candidates has
been undertaken by the LIMEX
program coordinated by the Office
of Religious Education.
Photos by Jonas N. Jordan and
Landmark Impressions.
Ms. Barbara D. King Father Douglas K. Clark Mr. James B. Knapp, Jr.