John J Manning has been asked many times to provide his own biography but he is so busy passing (selling) GAS (at CON ED) that he has been unable to find the time to sit down and collect his thoughts.  When you write your own you can exaggerate and outright lie if you wish to.

In the interests of History, I, his humble younger brother, attempted to bring my best recollection of my Big Brother.

John Joseph Manning was born March 25, 1939 in the deep South Bronx Irish Ghetto.  He was an ugly child and at an exceedingly early age was noted to talk a lot, almost non-stop. 

He attended SS Peter & Paul School, on Brook Ave. between 159th and 160th Streets right near the bend in the Third Ave EL.  He barely managed to graduate because he talked so much, ergo, he didn't have enough time to learn.  He attended Cathedral College Prep at 87th and West End Ave, NY NY for six years.  Like I said he was slow.  He then went to St Josephs in Yonkers, NY.  It again took him 6 years to graduate. 

After graduation from St Josephs he got a job with the Archdiocese of New York. His first assignment was north in Immaculate Conception Parish in Amenia-Millerton, NY.  Nice assignment. But like I said he was not too smart, and he volunteered to work in Manhattan, NY.  While assigned to St Gregory's, he dabbled with revolution, crime and anarchism i.e., the Berrigans, Gigante(s) and the Browns.  

He wanted more punishment, so he volunteered to go back to school in Santo Domingo, DR to learn the Spanish language. Upon his return to the good old USA, he volunteered for an assignment in St Athanasius, a deep South Bronx Spanish Ghetto. After a few years, he took a leave of absence to provide care for his ailing parents in 1979. They both died in 1980.  Subsequent to their death, he decided to take an early retirement as a parish priest.

He decided he needed more schooling, so he went to Iona to pick up another Master’s Degree, this time in Personal Management.

John married in 1981 to Evelyn Johnson. The others in the Manning family tried to counsel her before the marriage to make sure she knew what she was doing. She would not listen. A boy was born to this marriage and they named him Brian. A sharp and intelligent boy (must be from the mother’s side). A great athlete (must be from his uncles).

After obtaining his second maybe third Masters Degree, John Manning got a job with Con Edison the major NY Utility Company. He dabbled with Electric & Gas. John Manning excelled at GAS as anyone can attest to if you are lucky enough to engage him in current conversation. His great expanse of experience has provided John Manning with a multitude of STORIES. If you talk to him and you think there is a light at the end of the tunnel, forget it. Truly, if he really runs out of stories, he will begin to make them up. John Manning would make an exceptional Senator and/or Congressman. He could out filibuster anyone. John nows lives in Yonkers New York. Brian attended Fordham Prep and graduated in 4 years (Unlike his father). Brian graduated in 2006 from Xavier University, Cincinnatti Ohio in 4 years (Unlike his father). Brian lives in Mayfield Heights, Ohio working for the AKRON OHIO RUBBER DUCKS organization as the Concession Manager at the AKRON OHIO RUBBER DUCKS ballpark.  In May of 2021 he did a career switch and joined The Progressive Insurance Company closer to his home as a Manager of a Call Center.

John lives in Yonkers, NY.  He has one son and two grand daughters.

I invite others to contribute to this biography. All will probably be published. Maybe you have a different recollection of John Manning.

Others especially those in Harlem did have a different view and I was reminded of same as follows:

On an Easter Sunday morning May 1, 1977 at St Gregory Parish there was "UNA CELEBRACION DE ACCION DE GRACIAS" "UNE CELEBRATION D'ACTION DE GRACES" " A CELEBRATIONOF GRATITUDE".

 "Today, we honor Father Manning. We remember his simplicity, his service, his song. We recognize that in leaving St. Gregory's, he said 'yes' to a certain dying within himself for it was clear that he loved St Gregory and that St. Gregory's loved him. Yet, Easter faith encourages us to find, even in this separation, a quiet but sure tide of joy. As priest, he makes present the priesthood of Christ and his going is not a mere parting of the ways. Rather, his presence in the South Bronx is a sign which says that we of St Gregory's are one with the people of St Athanasius. This is our joy: there are no "other" places, "other" people; we are one in the Lord. We are grateful to Fr. Manning for what he has been and continues to be for us. We congratulate his family and friends and welcome them with affection. We rejoice in the Lord who makes us one. "This is the day the Lord has made , let us rejoice and be glad."

FROM SOUTH BRONX TO SOUTH BRONX

When Father John Manning left St. Gregory's last October to become Administrator of St. Athanasius Church in the South Bronx, it meant that he was returning to the neighborhood where he had been born on March 25 1939. In his boyhood years in the South Bronx, the neighborhood was largely a community of Irish immigrants, among whom were his own parents. James Manning and Julia Curtin Manning had come to New York from County Kerry, and in 1938 they were married in St. Jerome's Church in the Bronx. The oldest of four sons, John was educated by the Sisters of Charity at Sts. Peter & Paul Parochial School. For high school, John chose Cathedral Prep on West 87th Street, which was his first relationship with St. Gregory's Parish. Continuing in his conviction that he was called to the priesthood, he went on to Cathedral College and then to St. Joseph's Seminary in Yonkers. He was ordained a priest on May 30, 1964, and he celebrated his first Mass in the Church of Sts. Peter & Paul in the Bronx. Father Manning's first assignment as a priest was Immaculate Conception Parish in Amenia, New York. His interest in young people and sports had been evident when he was in college and the seminary when he held a number of summer jobs as a youth counsellor. For three summers he worked at St. Francis de Sales Day Camp, and for two more he worked at the Kennedy Home in the Bronx. It was not surprising then that this interest was continued in Amenia where he devoted a great deal of time to working with teenagers, including organizing and coaching in a basketball program. Father Manning did not limit himself to working with teenagers at Immaculate Conception. The energy, dedication and generosity that were so evident at St. Gregory's were present in Amenia as well. He taught in a school of theology and developed a religious education program. He also was the chaplain for the Christian Family Movement in the mission church of St. Patrick in Millerton. In September 1967, Father Manning came to St. Gregory's. Although he would be too modest to admit it, he made a significant contribution to St. Gregory's in a variety of ways. The results of his work are evident everywhere. Many of the young people of our neighborhood are people of faith because they have known John Manning as their teacher and their friend. Father Manning taught religion to the children in St. Gregory's School and to the children from public school who come to our religious instruction programs. He also worked with children outside of the classroom and organized trips, basketball games, and other activities. But John Manning was not just concerned with teaching children. In 1969 he organized St. Gregory's Adult Education Program, which has helped hundreds of adults learn to speak English. Even the appearance of the building bears the stamp of his efforts in organizing parishioners to paint the school classrooms and halls. This earned him the title of "Michaelangelo of St. Gregory's" among his fellow artists. Father Manning had a very great influence on our parish liturgies. He was one of the organizers of our Folk Mass and our Children's Mass. He worked extremely hard preparing these Masses each Sunday, as well as all other music in the parish. He was continually active on the Liturgy Committee of the Parish Council and both his singing and his extensive work behind the scenes helped the people of St. Gregory's participate in and enjoy creative and inspirational liturgies. John Manning's influence extended from the parish community into the neighborhood at large. Continuing the tradition of Fathers Browne and Farrelly before him, he worked closely with the Strycker's Bay Neighborhood Council and was elected a Vice-President in 1976. He also organized St. Gregory's annual Blood Drive, which provides needed blood to people in our community. Father Manning's vision of Church encompasses more than just a single parish. He believes in fostering cooperation among parishes, and that is why he was instrumental in the organizing of the Park West Area Conference. John Manning also has been active in the Senate of Priests of the Archdiocese of New York. He was on the first Senate when it was formed in 1967. He was reselected in 1973, and he has been serving on the Personnel Committee. He was the recording secretary of the Senate and later became a Vice President 2 years later. John Manning has done much for St. Gregory's but he would be the first to admit that what he did was possible because he could work closely with the other priests and the sisters and especially with lay people. John Manning does not see the Church as an institution which is to be dominated by priests, and one of his greatest accomplishments at St. Gregory's was to enable many lay people to get involved in the work of the Parish. Father Manning was active in starting the St. Gregory's Parish Council and served as secretary for a number of years. In the summer of 1975, Father Manning traveled to the Dominican Republic to study Spanish. He felt that it was necessary, if he was to serve better the people of St. Gregory's, that he improve his ability to speak Spanish, which he had been studying over the years.

After nine years in St. Gregory's he was asked by the Cardinal to become the Administrator of St. Athanasius Church in the South Bronx. John Manning will need his Spanish to serve well in that neighborhood. He now faces new challenges and new opportunities in a neighborhood that has greatly changed since he was a boy. It is a neighborhood that needs a priest with Father Manning's talents, and it is a neighborhood that will be blessed by his talents and commitment. We miss him at St. Gregory's, but it is somewhat appropriate that at this point in his life of service to God and His people, John Manning is back where he began.

STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART.....St Gregory Students Remember Father Manning......

Father Manning was kind, and funny. People liked the way he talked. When he talked everybody would stay quiet, because when he talked, he made so much sense that you just couldn't interrupt him. He was also funny. He would always make somebody laugh. I wish he would have stayed.

I feel that Father Manning was a very nice person. He really trusted in the lord and just before he left he told us, "that he felt it was his duty to go because sometimes God calls on us to make difficult decisions just to test us on our faith." And so he accepted to go.

Dear Father Manning: I hope you are having a good time and that you still help many children. P.S. Everyone is missing you.

Father Manning was a good singer and has a great, loud voice. That's how I feel about Father Manning

Father Manning: A stern but kind person. I know about 65 people that really really cared for him like me. Maybe even more, but I still must confess he was very strict and straighter than a stick. I wrote this poem for him. "here be we in this tree without the bird that led us to God he left for a need much greater than greed we really need a person to lead us just like that man but he can't be duplicate but I hope & pray that someday I'll see him again.

When I think of Father Manning, I would hope he didn't leave because he sings nicely. And teaches us right. I loved him and he loved us and he was a kind and generous priest.

Father Manning was a nice priest with a deep voice that could scare you. I guess that's why everybody liked him so much. He brought people to the 11 fifteen mass with his feelings for singing and the joy he brought. But the best thing about him was he always had time for everybody. He was one of the nicest priests and we'll all miss him at least I know I will.

Father Manning taught us religion in the 7th grade and I really liked the way he taught us religion because he's not scared to talk he just goes right out and says it.

Dear Father Manning: When I think of you, I think of God and all the things you did for the people and church.

Father manning is a beautiful person. if you respect him, he in turn will respect you.

I like Father Manning because...

...he is a holy person and a priest and helps you to love God, to share and help other people, to be good with other people.

...he sings songs with his love and his heart with Joy. I wish I would be a priest.

...he is a nice priest and a good man and likes us all and teaches us songs and he's good!

...he was very, very nice. He helped us to hear about God Everybody here at St. Gregory's misses him very much! !

...he took me on a trip, He teached me all good songs. He loves everyone in St. Gregory's very much. He reads God's story and when I had my first communion he gave me the body of god.

...he is a priest and loves us and he shares with us and he sings for us in church and some people sing with him.

...he is a beautiful person friend to everybody in the school and he's the best singer in the church on Sundays. And Father Manning you are a generous person and a friend.

...he is good to us by helping us and by loveing us.

...he is a priest that you can trust and he helps you believe in God, and he is a very good priest.

When I think of Father Manning I think of all the things he did for the school. He helped out with everything he could think of. We all love him very much. And we'll never forget him.

I think Father Manning was a good priest. He was the one who helped us when we needed it. Without him this school wouldn't hold out.

I miss Father Manning very much. I wish he never left, because he was just one of the crowd. He will always be in every bodies heart in our church and school.

Father Manning is a very nice person to be around, and I feel very comfortable. He's a very good Priest, he can sing, and he's very considerate. Since he's gone the school isn't the same anymore but he'll always be remembered by the kids.

Father Manning was very nice to all the children of the school and showed us his love and affection.

Father Manning is someone very special to us, he brings us closer to God. He helps us to try to understand God a little more. Father Manning is not only a great priest, he's a great guy.

I never knew you because I am new in the school. But the kids told me you were nice. And when I went to church I heard you sing and I thought you sang beautifully.

When I think of Father Manning I think of a very nice but strict person. His strictness is a part of his personality & I do not think anyone would like to have it any other way. He was an affectionate & kind man, it was sad & happy that he went. Sad in the aspect that he had to go & happy because he was promoted Pastor a bigger position than before. .