Below is a roundup of special events and activities happening in April that we’ve compiled from our parishes’ social media pages. If you’d like us to feature a program or event, please email them to us at editor@diosav.org.

SAVANNAH DEANERY

Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Port Wentworth will be hosting the relics of Saint Bernadette from the Sanctuary in Lourdes, France, on April 27-28. It is part of a first-ever nationwide tour from April to August 2022, organized by the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in partnership with the Conference of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, North American Volunteers, Hospitalite of Miami and the Order of Malta.

“The Virgin Mary appeared in 1858 to a young Bernadette in the French Village of Lourdes. She called for the repentance from sin and offered water for the healing of both body and soul. Millions of pilgrims travel to Lourdes today to be reconciled with God and to pray for healing.”

For more information, please visit: http://stbernadetteusa.org/ip.php?pg=Port_Wentworth-GA

St. Anne Catholic Church in Richmond Hill is presenting a teaching and exposition of Sacred Relics on Sunday, April 3 at 3pm. Father Carlos Martins, a Vatican-appointed expert on relics, will present an extraordinary Vatican collection of over 150 relics, some as old as 2,000 years.

Among the treasures will be relics of St. Anne, St. Joseph, St. Maria Goretti, St. Therese of Lisieux (the “Little Flower”), St. Francis of Assisi, St. Anthony of Padua, St. Thomas Aquinas, and St. Faustina Kowalska. There will also be a portion of the Veil of Our Lady and one of the largest remaining pieces of the True Cross in the world. Those in attendance will be able to examine and venerate each relic. Throughout history, many healings have been worked in the presence of relics; and thousands have occurred through this ministry. Attendees are encouraged to bring articles of devotion (such as rosaries, holy cards, etc.) and pictures of ill friends/family members, which they will be able to touch to the reliquaries as a means of intercession.

Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Savannah is hosting the Encounter School of Ministry for a 1-day “School of Identity” retreat on Saturday, April 2nd from 9:15am-7pm.

“Come experience a one-day intensive to help you grow in your identity as a son or daughter of God! This retreat highlights some of the most transformational elements of the Encounter School of Ministry ‘Identity and Transformation’ quarter and is geared to renew your mind, increase your intimacy with the Father, and prepare you to minister out of your supernatural inheritance in Christ! Drawing from the rich tradition of Catholic teaching and Sacred Scripture as well as honoring different Christian faith denominations, our dynamic teachers, transformative content, and uplifting culture will prepare you to walk with Jesus under an open heaven.”

Learn more at: https://encounterschool.org/augusta/

St. James the Less Catholic Church in Savannah is offering a “Holy Hour for Healing” service on April 6th at 5:30pm, led by Bishop Parkes, in recognition of those in the Diocese of Savannah that have been affected by physical, sexual and/or emotional abuse, and to pray for comfort, hope and healing. April is child abuse prevention month.

 VALDOSTA-BRUNSWICK DEANERY

St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Baxley is hosting their 11th Annual Glory Road 5K & Fun Run on April 16th. “This is a great family event and fun way to spend a Saturday morning running for Christ! Pre-registration must be completed by April 8 to be guaranteed a shirt on race day. (If you don't get a shirt on race day, you will have one by the following weekend). Please contact Cathryn Holzschuher at cathryn888@yahoo.com for questions, registration or sponsor forms.”

St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Brunswick is hosting the Savannah Diocesan Council of Catholic Women Convention from April 29th-May 1st. The 2022 convention theme is “Reflect+Renew+Rejoice.”

LOOKING AHEAD

St. Joseph Catholic Church in Macon and the Dominican Sisters of Hawthorne are hosting a Marian Retreat Day on Saturday, May 21st, geared toward young women ages 16-25. “There will be talks given on Our Blessed Mother, holy hour with exposition, and other activities for the day. Call 845-745-1319 to sign up.”

St. Peter the Apostle Catholic Church in Savannah is hosting a “Prayer and Action” mission experience for incoming high school freshmen to outgoing high school seniors on the following dates:

-          June 12-17 (St. Peter the Apostle)

-          June 19-24 (St. Peter the Apostle)

-          June 26-July 1 (Aquinas High School)