Saturday, October 31, 2026

8 a.m.
Doors to the Savannah Convention Center open

8–10:30 a.m.
The Georgia Martyr Museum and Art Exhibit at the Savannah Convention Center is open and available for touring

10:30 a.m.
All are invited to take their seats

11 a.m.
Mass of Beatification (approximately two hours long)

1–2:30 p.m.
The Georgia Martyr Museum and Art Exhibit at the Savannah Convention Center is open and available for touring

Sunday, November 1, 2026

11:30 a.m.
Mass of Thanksgiving, Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist

The Beatification Liturgy will take place at the Savannah Convention Center, located at 1 International Drive on Hutchinson Island, across the Savannah River and the Talmadge Memorial Bridge. The Convention Center can accommodate ~10,000 people.

There are no tickets for the Beatification; seating is first come, first served. Doors will open at 8 a.m.

We do ask all individuals planning to attend the Beatification to please register. Your registration does not guarantee you a specific seat – it is to help us with event logistics (traffic flow, distribution of Holy Communion, etc.) and to provide a way for attendees to receive event updates via email

There is no cost to attend the Beatification. We do, however, welcome contributions to help defray the cost of the Beatification and to continue to promote the Cause for Canonization of the Georgia Martyrs.

Yes, please register if you are planning to attend the Beatification. While your registration does not guarantee you a specific seat, knowing how many attendees to expect will help us with event logistics (traffic flow, distribution of Holy Communion, etc.). It will also provide a way for attendees to receive event updates via email. Seating will be first come, first served.

Registrations will be accepted until September 30, 2026.

You do not need to register separately if you have a confirmed seat on a bus reserved by your parish/group.

Doors to the Savannah Convention Center will open at 8 a.m. the morning of the Beatification. Seating will be first come, first served. Saving seats will not be allowed at this event.

For those who arrive after 11 a.m., ushers will guide you if seating is still available.

The Savannah Convention Center has 1,500 parking spaces. As we are expecting anywhere from 3,000 to 10,000 attendees, we strongly recommend that attendees plan on parking elsewhere. More information on overflow parking lots will be available soon.

Convention Center Surface Lot: $10
Convention Center Parking Garage: $20

If you are staying at a downtown property, we recommend that you take the water taxi (ferry) to the Savannah Convention Center on Hutchinson Island. Barring inclement weather and ship traffic, the ferry will depart City Hall Landing (on River St. by the Hyatt Hotel) with continual service starting at 6 a.m. on the day of the Beatification. 

Given the number of expected attendees, there will be lines for the water taxis. Please budget one hour to travel to/from the convention center, including wait times.

Concession stands at the Savannah Convention Center will be selling snack and grab-and-go items (granola bars, muffins, fruit, etc.). Meals will not be available.

Please note that the Savannah Convention Center is a cashless venue. Debit/credit cards will be required for purchase.

Yes. And if you are staying at a downtown property, we recommend that you take the water taxi (ferry) to the Savannah Convention Center on Hutchinson Island.

The county operates the free Savannah Belles Ferry across the river to the Savannah Convention Center on Hutchinson Island. Barring inclement weather and ship traffic, the ferry will depart City Hall Landing (on River St. by the Hyatt Hotel) with continual service starting at 6 a.m. on the day of the Beatification. The crossing is 10 minutes, arriving at the landing between the convention center and Westin Hotel. Ferries depart the island 10 minutes after every City Hall departure, and the return is 20 minutes – as the ferry stops (8:10 a.m.–5:40 p.m.) at Waving Girl Landing (on River St. by Homewood Suites) on its way back to City Hall.

Given the number of expected attendees, there will be lines for the water taxis. Please budget one hour to travel to/from the convention center, including wait times.

(Alternatively, you may start your journey at Waving Girl and stop by City Hall on the way to the convention center, but ferries only depart Waving Girl 8:20 a.m.–6:20 p.m. and at irregular intervals.)

Please visit catchacat.org/getting-around/zero-fare/savannah-belles-ferry

Download a Water Taxi map

The Savannah Convention Center has a designated area for the loading and unloading of buses.

Those coming by bus should NOT register via General Registration. Instead, a representative of the parish/group should register the number of attendees through the bus registration form or by calling Nathan Ware at 912-201-4046.

Registration does not guarantee a specific seat for the event; it is to help us plan for seating and Holy Communion, and to provide a way for attendees to receive event updates (including parking, logistics, etc.).

This is a sacred event, and it is suggested that attendees dress as they would for Sunday Mass. Please note that no Halloween costumes will be allowed for adults or children.

The beatification is indoors and – excepting a hurricane or other severe weather event – will occur, rain or shine. Should the weather be severe, a decision regarding postponement will be made on Wednesday, October 28, and will be posted on all Diocese of Savannah social media platforms and the Diocesan website.