WASHINGTON (April 30, 2003) -- Pope John Paul II has appointed Monsignor George W. Coleman, Diocesan Administrator of the Diocese of Fall River, Massachusetts, as Bishop of Fall River.

Bishop-elect Coleman succeeds Most Reverend Sean P. O'Malley, OFMCap, who was appointed Bishop of Palm Beach last September.

Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, announced the appointment.

George W. Coleman was born in Fall River on February 1, 1939.

He attended Somerset public elementary schools, Monsignor Coyle High School in Taunton, and Holy Cross College in Worcester. He studied at St. John's Seminary, Brighton, and at the North American College and the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, where he earned a Licentiate in Sacred Theology.

Msgr. Coleman was ordained a priest on December 16, 1964.

Following ordination, he served in pastoral assignments in New Bedford, Fall River, and Centerville. He served as pastor of St. Patrick Church, Fall River, 1982-1985, and as pastor of Corpus Christi Church, Sandwich, 1985-1994.

Bishop-elect Coleman was appointed Vicar General of Fall River and Moderator of the Curia in 1994. He was diocesan Director of Education from 1977 to 1985.

Established in 1904, the Diocese of Fall River has a Catholic population of 350,570 in a total population of about 591,000.

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