b'ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI USED PAX ET BONUM AS A GREETING IT TRANSLATES TO PEACE AND GOODNESS.AN INTERVIEW WITH Archbishop Gregory J. HartmayerWRITTEN BY TJ M C CAUSTLANDArchbishop Gregory John Hartmayer Order of Friars Minor Conventual was appointed the fourteenth Bishop of the Diocese of Savannah by Pope Benedict XVI on October 18, 2011. He was appointed the Seventh Archbishop of the Atlanta Archdiocese by Pope Francis on March 5, 2020 consecrated and installed on May 6, 2020 at the Cathedral of Christ the King in Atlanta. I have been fortunate to be at theTJ: Tell me about your childhood State Convention for the many timesand family; his Excellency Hartmayer has led usAH: I grew up in Tonawanda, New spiritually throughout the convention.York just north of Buffalo. I went to ArchbishopHartmayerisanexcel- Cardinal OHara high school staffed lent homilist but that may be a littleby Franciscan Friars. There were 14 biased as he speaks so highly of theFriars for the 400 boys at the school. Knights of Columbus. I enjoyed hisThe friars were young and energet-spiritual messages and the patienceic and were interested in us.They with which our Good Shepherd hascared about how we were doing and led us.growing and always involved them-I had the honor and privilege of in- selvesinourdailylife.Theywere terviewing his Excellency Archbishopmentors in our daily activities dra-Gregory J. Hartmayer and have at- ma, sports, ring dancing and etc.tempted to report the kindness andIt was a great time to be in Buffalo graciousness of that interview: Archbishop Hartmayer knocks on the door of the Cathedral ofthe Bills were winning the AFL with YourExcellencythankyouforChrist the King, Atlanta, three times during the reception at theJack Kemp, Ken Rice, and Ernie Da-taking the time to bless the Knightschurch door. He was greeted by Msgr. Francis G. McNamee,vis who suffered later from bad knees ofColumbusofGeorgiawithyourcathedral rector, who presented the new archbishop with aand other injuries. Later they were in thoughts.I do hope that you knowcross, a gift from the people at Cathedral of Christ the King.the Superbowl four years in a row. that the Georgia Knights do not have the words to convey justWe especially enjoyed it when the Miami Dolphins would come how much we love and appreciate you. to play in our outdoor stadium in January.TJ: I spoke to you in May of 2019 just after Archbishop Greg- TJ: Tell me about your brothers and sisters: ory had abandoned us for Washington DC, at that time I askedAH: I am Second of four children my older brother is Doug-you to accept the Archbishop position whenlas my younger brother is Jack and Mary they asked you.Thank you for that. You wereJo is the youngest. They all have their own so sure at the time that you would not be con- families and children and grandchildren.My sidered what do you think happened? sister Mary Jo retired to Bluffton, South Car-AH: I didnt think it would ever happen. olina to be close to me in Savannah after I love it here and I love being in Georgia,she retired from the Navy. Captain Mary Jo it is a metropolitan city of 1.3 Million Cath- was a nurse.She moved not long before it olics with two auxiliary bishops to help Nedwas announced that I would be the Arch-Schlesinger and Joel Konzen. bishop of Atlanta and now she is about four hours away. TJ: I have met them both and they are goodMy mother died two years ago in May.My shepherds.BishopSchlesingerisamuchfather died before I had a cell phone, so I better golfer than I am and most of the peo- dont have as many pictures of him.ple I have played with have you ever played with him? TJ: Why did you move to Georgia? AH: Not yet but I would love to play as IAH: I am a Franciscan and I have a prov-enjoy golf and being outside. I prefer to playince which extends from Massachusetts to best ball because if you play your own ball,BrotherC.Douglas,BrotherJack,Arch- Florida and we were available to serve wher-bishop Hartmayer, Mother Sally, andSister they are always waiting for me to catch up. Mary Jo at their mothers90th birthday. ever the provincial needed us.49'