Savannah bishop on beatification of Georgia martyrs: ‘Be joyful witnesses’

The bishop of Savannah, Georgia, looks forward to “welcoming many visitors” this fall for the upcoming beatification of the 16th-century Jesuit missionaries known as the “Georgia Martyrs.”

The bishop of the Diocese of Savannah, Georgia, the host diocese for the beatification of the Georgia Martyrs, encouraged Catholics to take inspiration from the martyrs by being “joyful witnesses” to the faith.

In an April 16 interview on “EWTN News Nightly,” Bishop Stephen D. Parkes shared about the upcoming beatification of the five Spanish Franciscan friars, who are collectively known as the “Georgia Martyrs.” The beatification will take place on Oct. 31 and will be celebrated by Cardinal Francis Leo of the Archdiocese of Toronto.

“People are very excited about this because it is so unique in the life of a diocese,” Parkes told “EWTN News Nightly.” “This is not something that happens very often.”

The beatification will be “the first in the South,” according to Parkes.

Plans for the beatification are still in progress, and a venue has not yet been set — but hailing from Savannah, nicknamed the Hostess City of the South, Parkes said he looks forward “to welcoming many visitors.”

“A lot goes into planning because there are some questions about how many people will actually come,” Parkes said. “Weʼve been looking for a venue that will be large enough to accommodate thousands and we want to be very welcoming.”

From martyr to ‘blessed’

Parkes described the 16th-century martyrs as “men who gave their lives for our faith in defense of the sacrament of marriage.”

“They were Spanish missionaries who came here to our country in order to help to evangelize the Native peoples,” Parkes said. “And, obviously, they fell into some challenges with the evangelization process.”

In September 1597, Father Pedro de Corpa, Father Blas Rodríguez, Father Miguel de Añon, Brother Antonio de Badajóz, and Father Francisco de Veráscola were killed for defending the sanctity of marriage at a mission in present-day Georgia.

The cause for canonization of the Georgia Martyrs officially began in 1950 but ramped up in the 1980s. Beatification is a significant step toward sainthood in the Catholic Church.

In January 2025, Pope Francis recognized the five Franciscans as martyrs for Christ who were killed for their faith. Parkes called this a “milestone” for the cause.

“When Pope Francis gave approval for the beatification to take place, it was significant because we knew that we would be able to move forward with this now,” Parkes said. “It was accepted by the Church.”

“They will be known as Blessed Pedro de Corpa and Companions — also known more commonly as the Georgia Martyrs,” he said. “In our process towards sainthood and canonization, this is a huge milestone.”

What can Catholics learn from the Georgia Martyrs?

When asked what lessons Catholics can take away from the martyrs, Parkes said that “we have to be joyful witnesses.”

“We are called to be witnesses of faith, most especially in this world that we live in today,” he said. “I donʼt think weʼre always understood as Catholics, but we have to be courageous witnesses.”

“We need to continue to promote marriage and family life as a priority for our country, for our communities, for our society,” Parkes said.

“When people see that and see the incredible foundation that we have in faith — we have something solid to believe in — I believe people are looking for that today in a world where so much is fleeting and so many things are temporal,” he continued.

“In this kind of way, look at how we are able to celebrate these men who lived centuries ago, and they were defending something that still exists today and that we lift up today,” Parkes said.