George Joseph ForquerBorn in New Lexington, Ohio, on October 9,1909, Joseph Patrick Forquer was the second of the six children of Lydia Mary Berry and George Ambrose Forquer. He attended St. Rose Grammar School in New Lexington, 1915 to 1923, and Mount St. Mary's High School in Emmitsburg, Maryland, 1923 to 1927. In 1928 he enrolled in the Office Training Business School in Columbus, Ohio, and later attended Mount St. Mary's college in Emmitsburg, Maryland, 1933 to 1934, and Providence College, Providence, Rhode Island,1934 to 1935.

On August 15, 1935, Joseph Patrick entered the Order, receiving the Dominican habit and religious name of George at St. Rose Priory, Springfield, Kentucky. First profession was made on August 16, 1936, after which he moved to the Dominican House of Studies in River Forest, Illinois, to study philosophy and theology. When the Province of St. Albert the Great was established in 1939, Brother George chose to affiliate with the new Province. On June11,1942,he was ordained to the priesthood by the Most Reverend Bernard Shiel, Auxiliary Bishop of Chicago, in the priory chapel in River Forest. He then continued his theological studies for another year.

In 1943, Father Forquer was sent to St. Dominic's Church in Denver, Colorado, where he served as assistant pastor and after 1951, as pastor. He also served the Dominican community in Denver as procurator during this time. Following fourteen years in Denver, in 1957, he was next assigned as assistant pastor at St. Pius V Church in Chicago where he also became involved in the ministry of the Shrine of St. Jude Thaddeus located there. In 1961, he was appointed Director of the Shrine and served in this position for almost twenty years. In addition, he served the Dominican community at St. Pius V Priory as subprior,1957 to 1964, and the Province as Economic Administrator, 1966to 1968. After 1980, Father Forquer continued to serve the clients of the Shrine of St. Jude on a more limited basis until ill health compelled him to retire in 1989.

Shortly before his death, it had been found necessary to move Father Forquerinto a nursing home; to place him closer to his family, he resided at Assumption Nursing Home in Youngstown, Ohio, where he was able to enjoy the company of other Dominicans from the Eastern Province as well. He died peacefully on the morning of October 30,1990. Following a Mass of Christian Burial celebrated on Friday, November 2, at St. Dominic's Church in Youngstown, he was buried in the Dominican plot at Calvary Cemetery, Youngstown, Ohio.

A special Memorial Mass was celebrated at St. Pius V Church in Chicago on November 8, 1990, to afford the brethren, the Shrine staff and the clients of St. Jude an opportunity to honor the memory of Joseph George Forquer and his ministry at the Shrine.

In May of 1987, Father Forquer was honored at a Mass of Thanksgiving for his forty-five years of priesthood and thirty years of ministry at the Shrine of St. Jude. Following is an excerpt from the Shrine publication, The St. Jude Chronicle: "Father Forquer has touched

thousands of lives during forty-five years of ministry, thirty of them at the Shrine. So many people are deeply grateful for what he has done for them by his care and concern. The Dominicans of the Province of St. Albert the Great are grateful for his years of dedication and service."