Sacred Place on the Coast of Georgia: The Blood of Martyrs

Last updated on: January 18, 2017 at 3:53 pm by Father Pablo Migone

Sacred Place on the Coast of Georgia: The Blood of Martyrs 2017-01-18T15:53:33-05:00 Father Pablo Migone

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Twelve palm trees mark the location of Georgia’s first church, a mission dedicated to Saint Catherine. Destroyed in the late 1600s by fire, the mission was run by Spanish Franciscan friars who first arrived to Saint Catherines Island, Georgia, in the 1590s. Located on an island still only accessible by boat fifty miles south of Savannah, the Mission of Santa Caterina de Guale was the northernmost Atlantic outpost of the mighty Spanish Empire which at one point stretched from the southern tip of South America to California, and from Peru to coastal Georgia.

The Spanish successfully established colonies and missions along the eastern coast of Florida and Georgia in the sixteenth century. Though this territory collectively called “La Florida” was not rich in gold and silver, it was a strategic location since Spanish galleons full of riches sailed back to Europe along the coast. Fearful of British attacks and unfriendly natives along the coast, the Spanish had an interest in colonizing the region. After the successful founding of Saint Augustine in present-day Florida in 1565, the Spanish founded a string of missions along the coast, both on the mainland and barrier islands.

Royce Hayes (back), longtime superintendent of Saint Catherines , explains the graves that were found at the Fallen Tree Site.

By 1597 there were five missions in Coastal Georgia where Franciscan friars preached the Gospel, learned the indigenous Guale language, and lived peacefully with the native population. Most Guale natives not only embraced Christianity but also welcomed European goods such as glass beads, metal tools, various cloths and other luxury items. The friars lived among the Guale without any military presence, giving evidence to the good relations between the Guale and the missionaries.

Friar Luis Geronimo de Oré (a Peruvian Franciscan friar) recorded in 1618 after visiting La Florida, that on September 1597, the friar assigned to the mission of Tolomato (near Eulonia, Georgia) did not allow a baptized, Guale man to take a second wife. Juanillo, who was the heir to a Guale chiefdom, opposed the Friar Pedro de Corpa’s fidelity to Christian teaching on marriage and killed him. Juanillo and the men he assembled continued to the other missions with the intention of killing all friars. Before arriving to Saint Catherines Island, Juanillo ordered the chief of the island to execute the two friars stationed there, Father Miguel de Añon and Brother Antonio de Badajoz. Unwilling to carry out the order, the chief begged the friars to flee south to the mission on San Pedro Island (present day Cumberland Island). The friars refused to believe the rumors of coming murder. Once Juanillo and his men reached Saint Catherines, the two friars were brutally killed after they prayed fervently inside the very same church now marked by twelve palm trees. The oldest church in Georgia was a witness of the martyrdom of two of the five Franciscan Georgia Martyrs killed in 1597.

The Mission of Santa Caterina de Guale was burnt in 1597, but the Guale rebuilt the mission and requested Saint Augustine to send a priest. The mission church continued to operate until a 1680 attack by British slave traders and Westo Indians from South Carolina. Though the attack was thwarted, the Guale soon preferred moving south than succumbing to slavery. The mission was abandoned.

In the 1980s, three centuries after its destruction, archeologists under the direction of Dr. David Hurst Thomas discovered the remains of the mission church. This sacred ground is a testament to the fervent response by the sixteenth century Church to preach the Gospel to the ends of the earth. It stands as a reminder of the deep faith of the Franciscan friars who left the comforts of home and were willing to give up their lives for the sake of the Gospel. It is also a reminder of the deep and vibrant faith of the Guale Indians, many of which are buried there. Unfortunately this sacred ground will be under water in several decades unless drastic and expensive measures are taken to strengthen the quickly eroding shore of the island.

The beautiful Saint Catherines Island contains a little-known yet significant treasure. The twelve palm trees enclose a site for pilgrimage and remembrance. Hundreds of Guale men and women came to know Christ in this exact location, and two courageous, young friars held fast to their calling to be witnesses to Jesus Christ. The twelve palm trees encircle a sacred place, a holy place, on the coast of Georgia.

We got very close to this beautiful bald eagle

On the very small boat heading back to the mainland after spending a wonderful day on the island

Previous Post

January 8, 2017

Epiphany: An Encounter with God

Next Post

January 31, 2017 Southern Bishops Speak for Life

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Article Catholic Lima Christmas Commentary History Homily Immigration martyrs Meditation Pope Reflection Saint Story Uncategorized

Select a Month September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 January 2010 June 2009 September 2008 August 2008

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who was king when Daniel was thrown into the lions' den?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Darius Belshazzar Cyrus Nebuchadnezzar