Most Reverend Gerald P. O'Hara, Ninth Bishop of the Diocese of Savannah

Bishop Gerald P. O'Hara

Gerald P. O'Hara, a native of Green Ridge, Pennsylvania, came to Savannah from Philadelphia. He was the ninth bishop of that diocese, serving from 1935 to 1959.

In 1939, because of the large number of Catholics in the Atlanta area, the diocese got a new name, the Diocese of Savannah-Atlanta. There were cathedrals in both cities. Because of his work in the Vatican Diplomatic Service, Bishop O'Hara was often outside of the diocese. Francis X. Hyland, was appointed auxiliary bishop in 1949 to carry out much of the administrative work in the diocese. Archbishop O'Hara served as Regent of the Apostolic Nuntiature in Rumania from 1947-1950, became Papal Nuncio to Ireland in 1951 and Apostolic Delegate to Great Britain in 1954.

In 1956, Georgia was divided into two dioceses. Bishop Hyland became the first Bishop of Atlanta with Archbishop O'Hara remaining as Bishop of Savannah.