Rivard, Father Joseph

1972, January 13

Date of Birth: 1898, February 11

Joseph Rivard was born in Asbestos, Province of Quebec, Canada, on February 11, 1898. Soon after, his family moved to Willimantic, Connecticut, where, from 1903 to 1911, he attended St. Mary’s Parochial School. In 1911 he went to Assumption College in Worcester, Massachusetts. He left there in 1917 to go to the Seminary of Philosophy in Montreal, Canada. The next year, 1918-1919, he completed his Philosophy and attained his B.A. at St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore, Maryland. In 1919-1920 he went to the American College in Louvain, Belgium. On returning to the United States he attended the Sulpician Seminary (Theological College) at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. and obtained his S.T.B. in 1923. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 26, 1923, for the diocese of Hartford.

Adapted from Father Rivard’s “Personal Data” sheet and from other data supplied by Father John Bowen.