Société des Missions Africaines –Province d'Irlande

né le 27 décembre 1899 à Anahala dans le diocèse de Cork, Irlande membre de la SMA le 17 juillet 1924 prêtre le 10 juin 1928 décédé le 6 juillet 1992

1928-1939 missionnaire au Liberia 1941-1977 au service de la Province des Etats-Unis Los Angeles, paroisse Sainte Odile 1977-1990 Wilton, Cork, retiré 1990-1992 Blackrock Road, Cork, retiré décédé à Cork, Irlande, le 6 juillet 1992, à l'âge de 92 ans

Denis Manning was born at Anahala, Macroom, Co Cork, Ireland, in the diocese of Cork, on December 27, 1899. He died in the mother-house of the Irish Province, at Blackrock Road, Cork, on Monday, July 6, 1992.

Denis Manning was one of nine children in a family which came from the parish of Kilmichael, in West Cork. He received his early education at Toames national school before going to work with his father who was a carpenter. Denis always had a desire to become a priest and when he was 19 years old, in January 1919, he came to the Society's school at Wilton, Cork, to commence his secondary education. After a term at Wilton Denis was transferred to Ballinafad where he completed his second-level education. In September 1922 Denis joined the Society's novitiate and house of philosophy at Kilcolgan, Co Galway. Denis studied theology in St. Joseph's seminary, at Blackrock Road, Cork and, from 1926, with the transfer of the seminary, completed his studies at Dromantine, Co Down. Denis became a member of the Society on July 17, 1924; and was ordained a priest by Bishop Edward Mulhern of Dromore diocese, in St. Colman's cathedral, Newry, on June 10, 1928. Denis was one of a class of nine priests ordained on that day. He said his first Mass at Dromantine with Patrick J. Kelly (later bishop of Benin City diocese) serving.

Denis records in a written memoir that before ordination the Provincial, Maurice Slattery, asked each member of the class where they would like to serve. Denis chose Liberia because it was the most difficult mission field. This was typical of Denis who loved a challenge and was never afraid of hardship. Accordingly, after his ordination, he was appointed to the prefecture of Liberia. This indeed was a difficult mission field. During the 19th century three attempts to root the Church in Monrovia, Liberia's capital, had failed. Another effort in 1903 had met with a similar fate. The SMA took charge of the Liberia prefecture in 1906, when a small party of missionaries, led by Stephen Kyne, landed in Monrovia. Progress was painfully slow and it was only in 1912, with the foundation of mission stations on the Kru Coast, east of Monrovia, that the Liberian Church could be said to be properly established. Denis sailed for West Africa on the Elder Dempster liner, the Abba, in September 1928. A few days after his arrival, Jean Ogé, the mission superior, sent him down to the Kru Coast, where he was appointed to Sasstown district. Denis was to minister in Liberia for a total of eleven years (1928-1939). The Sasstown district, at that time consisted of two residential stations situated one kilometre apart, Old Sasstown and New Sasstown. These were the first missions established on the Kru Coast. Denis resided in Old Sasstown where his superior was John Collins, a veteran of the Coast. Fr. Collins was 'Visitor' of the confreres, responsible for the welfare of all Irish members in Liberia. (In 1931 he was to succeed Mgr. Ogé as mission superior and in 1934, with the erection of the jurisdiction as a vicariate, he became first Vicar Apostolic, with the rank of bishop). Because of Fr. Collins' responsibilities as 'visitor', Denis was effectively 'parish priest' in Old Sasstown, ministering to a Catholic community of some 900 members and 100 catechumens. At this time there was no residential missionary in New Sasstown, so Denis had to take charge of this large station (its Catholic membership was equivalent to that of Old Sasstown's) and, in addition, he visited regularly the outstations of Nonokya, Dayepo, Wessa, Suronyi, Gibo and Bwao, each with its small but growing Catholic community.

Liberia had been founded as a 'Black Republic' in the 1820's by emancipated slaves from America. From the early years there had been tension between the Americo-Liberians and the indigenous population, which frequently issued in violence. Three years after Denis' arrival in Sasstown, Kru tribesmen rose up against the government and a bitterly-fought war ensued. The Krus were defeated and their leaders took refuge in the interior. The Catholic mission offered its good offices to negotiate a peaceful surrender of the rebels. Denis Manning was one of two missionaries (the other was John Collins) who undertook the task of seeking out the Krus in the interior and in making the peace. This was an act of outstanding courage. Denis later served in the mission of Kekru, about a day's walk from Monrovia. This had been the first station founded by the Society in Liberia, in 1907, although it had been closed shortly afterwards.

After seven years in Liberia Denis was assigned to 'open up' the interior to the Catholic Church. Denis had a strong sense of justice and in his work was never afraid to confront authority when he saw abuses. He covered the territory between Gbarnga and Sanequellie where he experienced considerable opposition from local government whose oppressive policies he attacked. After four years in the region, relations between Denis and the government commissioner at Sanequellie deteriorated to a point where he was no longer able to continue in the country. Details of the conflict between Denis and Commissioner Dunbar are to be found in the archives of the Irish Province of the Society in Cork.

When he arrived home in July 1939, and when it became clear that he would be unable to return to Liberia, Denis was seconded to the American Province of the Society. This Province, which was in the process of formation, and which had a number of parishes exclusively for African-Americans, was short of personnel. Because of the difficulty in getting a passage to America in wartime, it was December 1942 before Denis was able to travel to his new mission. Denis ministered in St. Odilia’s parish, Los Angeles, between 1943-1977. Catering for African-Americans and a small (but growing number of Mexicans) St. Odilia's was a poor parish, in a poor district, but the Church was well established. Denis became a legend in this district of Los Angeles, staying with his people and succouring them during the Watts riots of the 1960's.

Denis remained a member of the Irish Province up to the time of his death. When he decided to retire in 1977, his Irish Superiors appeared to have believed that he was a member of the American Province. The misunderstanding prompted no doubt by the fact that Denis had remained continuously in America since 1942, caused ill-feeling on Denis’ part; and he went to live with a brother in Cork city. After a year, this brother contacted the Society and asked whether anything could be done. Letters were exchanged between the Irish and American administrations – there were new superiors in both Provinces – and the misunderstanding was soon cleared up. Denis was invited to come to Wilton, where he assisted in the public church. During his last two years, as his health deteriorated, he came to live in Blackrock Road.

Denis lived to a great age. Aloof and dignified, he was a man of principle and strength, who followed a simple, ascetic life-style. His only recreation was horse-racing, a sport of which he was reputed to have an expert knowledge. Deeply interested in Ireland and especially Irish politics, he was a life-long supporter of Eamonn De Valera, whose framed portrait always found a place in his room.

He is buried in the SMA cemetery at Wilton, Cork, Ireland.