Early life and education

George Coleman was born on February 1, 1939, to George and Beatrice (née Shea) Coleman in Fall River, Massachusetts; he had one sister, Eileen. Raised in Somerset, Massachusetts, he attended Village Elementary School. Coleman graduated from Monsignor James Coyle High School in Taunton, Massachusetts in 1957.^[1]

While studying at College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, 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.^[2]

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, John Paul II 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]

On July 3, 2014, Pope Francis accepted Coleman's resignation as bishop of Fall River.^[3]

Death

Coleman died on May 24, 2024, at the age of 85.^[5]