George William Coleman

George William Coleman (born February 1, 1939) is an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. Coleman serve as bishop of the Diocese of Fall River in Massachusetts from 2003 to 2014.

His Excellency, The Most Reverend

George William Coleman
Bishop Emeritus of Fall River
ArchdioceseBoston
DioceseFall River
AppointedApril 30, 2003
InstalledJuly 22, 2003
Term endedJuly 3, 2014
PredecessorSeán Patrick O'Malley, OFM Cap
SuccessorEdgar Moreira da Cunha, S.D.V.
Orders
OrdinationDecember 16, 1964
by Francis Frederick Reh
ConsecrationJuly 22, 2003
by Gabriel Montalvo Higuera, Daniel Anthony Cronin, and Seán Patrick O'Malley
Personal details
Born (1939-02-01) February 1, 1939
Fall River, Massachusetts
MottoDomini sumus
Styles of
George William Coleman
Reference style
Spoken styleYour Excellency
Religious styleBishop

Biography

Early life and education

George Coleman was born to George and Beatrice (née Shea) Coleman in Fall River, Massachusetts; he has one sister, Eileen. Raised in Somerset, Massachusetts, he attended Village Elementary School and graduated from Monsignor James Coyle High School in Taunton, Massachusetts in 1957.[1]

While studying at College of the Holy Cross, Coleman decided to enter the priesthood. He attended St. John's Seminary in Boston and then the Pontifical North American College in Rome. Coleman completed his theological studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, receiving a Licentiate in Theology.[2]

Ordination and ministry

On December 16, 1964, Coleman was ordained to the priesthood in Rome by Bishop Francis Reh for the Diocese of Fall River.[3][2]On returning to Massachusetts, Coleman served as associate pastor of St. Kilian's Parish in New Bedford, Massachusetts. In 1967, he was assigned to ministry at St. Louis Parish in Fall River and in 1972 to Our Lady of Victory Parish in Centerville, Massachusetts.

In 1977, Coleman was appointed director of the Diocesan Department of Education. He assumed the additional post in 1982 of pastor of St. Patrick's Parish in Fall River. From 1985 to 1994, Coleman served as pastor of Corpus Christi Parish in Sandwich, Massachusetts, concurrently serving as dean of the Cape Cod & Islands Deanery in the diocese from 1990 to 1994.

In 1994, Coleman was appointed vicar general and moderator of the curia of Fall River by then Bishop Seán O'Malley. Coleman was also raised to the rank of honorary prelate of his holiness in 1994 by Pope John Paul II.[2]When Bishop O'Malley was appointed in 2002 as bishop of the Diocese of Palm Beach, the Vatican chose Coleman to serve as diocesan administrator for the Diocese of Fall River.[2]

Bishop of Fall River

On April 30, 2003, John Paul II appointed Coleman as the seventh bishop of the Diocese of Fall River. He was consecrated on July 22 2003 by Archbishop Gabriel Higuera, with Archbishop Daniel Cronin and Bishop O'Malley serving as co-consecrators.[3][4][2] For his episcopal motto, Coleman chose Letter to the Romans (14:8): "Domini sumus -- We are the Lord's".[2]

Retirement

On July 3, 2014, Coleman sent his letter of retirement as bishop of the Diocese of Fall River to Pope Francis.[3]

See also

References
  1. Board, Editorial. "Our View: Bishop Coleman's retirement". The Enterprise, Brockton, MA. Retrieved 2021-10-26.
  2. "Bishop Coleman ordained seventh bishop of Fall River". www.thebostonpilot.com. Retrieved 2021-12-03.
  3. "Bishop George William Coleman [Catholic-Hierarchy]". www.catholic-hierarchy.org. Retrieved 2021-10-26.
  4. STAFF, GEORGE W. RHODES SUN CHRONICLE. "Bishop Coleman looks back on 11 years". The Sun Chronicle. Retrieved 2021-10-26.

Episcopal succession
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