Father George H. Tavard

Georges Henri Tavard was born in Nancy, France on February 6, 1922. He made profession of religious vows as an Assumptionist on December 27, 1943 and was ordained to the priesthood on March 2, 1947.

He received a Doctorate in Theology from Universite Catholique de Lyon in 1949.

After spending a few years in England, he came to the United States in 1952 and has been here ever since.

Fr. Tavard was a Peritus at the Second Vatican Council serving especially with the Protestant delegation. He held several teaching positions at American Universities and Seminaries, most notably at the Methodist Theological School in Ohio and Marquette University in Milwaukee.

Fr. Tavard authored over 55 books and numerous articles, mostly on ecumenical subjects. Until his death he was busy writing and lecturing.

Fr. George enjoyed membership in a number of important ecumenical venues. Among them we can mention the Anglican-Roman Catholic Commission in the United States, Lutherans and Catholics in Dialogue in the United States, Joint Commission between the Roman Catholic Church and the World Methodist Council.

Fr. George died suddenly in Paris on August 13, 2007. Funeral services took place on Tuesday, August 21 in the Church if St. Dominic in Paris. Father Tavard was buried at the Assumptionist plot in the Paris Montparnasse Cemetery.

A memorial Mass in the United States took place at the Chapel of the Holy Spirit at Assumption College in Worcester, MA on Sunday, September 16th, at 2:00 p.m.

In addition to his Assumptionist brothers, Fr. Tavard leaves a sister, Anne Marie Rossetti and a brother, Jean-Marie as well a niece, Alvira.

We invite you to share condolences or express your thoughts and memories about Father George Tavard, A.A. To sign the Memorial Guest Book please click here.

- A message sent by Walter Cardinal Kasper, the President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity.
- Obituary in Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

- Memorial donations maybe made to The Assumptionists and mailed to  330 Market Street, Brighton, MA 02135 or click here to visit the Father George Tavard - Memorial Donations page.

- Please also vist - http://www.assumption.us/Tavard/