Deceased Friars

Mathias Manly, OFM

Mathias Manly

1913 – 1978

Fr. Mathias Manly, OFM, was born March 9, 1913 in Medford, N.Y. After graduating from high school, he worked for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company for 10 years. At age 26, he entered St. Joseph’s Seraphic Seminary in Callicoon, N.Y., and adjusted easily because of his outgoing personality. He entered the novitiate at St. Bonaventure Friary, Paterson, N.J., in 1943 and professed temporary vows one year later. Fr. Mathias made his solemn profession in 1947 and was ordained in 1949.

During his 29 years of ministry, Fr. Mathias had three assignments, all related to the Secular Franciscans. While at Paterson, he served as assistant commissary of the Secular Franciscans and founded fraternities at Jersey City and West New York, N.J. From 1954 to 1958, Fr. Mathias was regional director of the Secular Franciscans in Western New York. He went to Jamaica, where he ministered for 20 years as chaplain and religion teacher at the Allegany Sisters’ high school in Constant Spring, and was spiritual director for the Secular Franciscans.

He died on April 17, 1978 at St. Francis Hospital in Miami Beach, Fla. Fr. Mathias was 65 years old, a professed friar for 33 years and a priest for 28 years.

Each of us should be called a lesser brother, a Friar Minor. Each one of us should wash the feet of the others.”

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Mathias Manly, OFM

Mathias Manly

1913 – 1978

Fr. Mathias Manly, OFM, was born March 9, 1913 in Medford, N.Y. After graduating from high school, he worked for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company for 10 years. At age 26, he entered St. Joseph’s Seraphic Seminary in Callicoon, N.Y., and adjusted easily because of his outgoing personality. He entered the novitiate at St. Bonaventure Friary, Paterson, N.J., in 1943 and professed temporary vows one year later. Fr. Mathias made his solemn profession in 1947 and was ordained in 1949.

During his 29 years of ministry, Fr. Mathias had three assignments, all related to the Secular Franciscans. While at Paterson, he served as assistant commissary of the Secular Franciscans and founded fraternities at Jersey City and West New York, N.J. From 1954 to 1958, Fr. Mathias was regional director of the Secular Franciscans in Western New York. He went to Jamaica, where he ministered for 20 years as chaplain and religion teacher at the Allegany Sisters’ high school in Constant Spring, and was spiritual director for the Secular Franciscans.

He died on April 17, 1978 at St. Francis Hospital in Miami Beach, Fla. Fr. Mathias was 65 years old, a professed friar for 33 years and a priest for 28 years.