|
Thursday, March 14, 2024
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: C. J. Doyle [email protected] www.fosbc.org JOHN F. MCMANUS, RIP The Friends of Saint Benedict Center today are mourning the loss of one of the longtime Members of the Third Order of the Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, John F. McManus, of Reading, Massachusetts. Jack died on March 4th. He was 89 years old, and had been in good health until December of 2023. His tertiary name was Brother John Berchmans, MICM, Tert. He was a member and supporter of the Crusade for more than five decades. Jack was an occasional speaker at the Saint Benedict Center Conference and contributed some notable articles to the Center's website, Catholicism.org, including one which he wrote about his Jesuit missionary-priest uncle, Father Edwin G. McManus, entitled My Only Uncle Was a Missionary Priest. His memorable tribute to our founder and teacher, Brother Francis, which he delivered in a speech in December of 1981, at a surprise party for Brother, was and is a marvelous mixture of inspiration, wit and Catholicity. A native of Brooklyn, New York, Jack was educated by the Jesuits at Brooklyn Preparatory School. He continued that education when he first came to Worcester, Massachusetts, to enroll in the College of the Holy Cross. While at the Cross, Jack was a midshipman in NROTC. Upon graduation, after receiving a Bachelor's degree in physics, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Marines. Following a three year tour of active duty, Jack left the Corps to pursue a career as an electronics engineer. Talented in his field, Jack received an award from the United States Air Force for his successful design of a component used in the production of third generation jet fighters. As a loyal veteran, a patriotic American and a committed Catholic, Jack was attracted to the John Birch Society, because of that organization's dedicated opposition to atheistic Communism. In 1966, Jack McManus commenced a fifty-eight year professional association with the Birch Society. A close collaborator with Birch founder Robert Welch, Jack was a gifted and prolific writer, teacher, lecturer and media spokesman for the Society, who frequently appeared on national radio and television, including many programs hosted by Pat Buchanan. Some of us also remember him as an articulate, highly informed and always compelling guest on Boston talk radio. Jack was the author of several books, and was the publisher of the Society's magazine, The New American. Beginning as a New England Field Coordinator in 1966, Jack became the Society's Director of Public Affairs in 1973. From 1991 to 2015, Jack McManus served as President of the John Birch Society. From 2015 until his death, he held the title of President Emeritus. Jack was a close friend of author and columnist Joe Sobran, whom he memorialized upon the latter's death in 2010. Jack McManus was also a longtime friend and supporter of the Catholic Action League of Massachusetts. Jack McManus was happily married for 65 years to the late Mary O'Reilly McManus, who died in May of 2023. John F. McManus was a pious, orthodox and traditional Catholic, and was a valiant defender of his country and its founding. He was also a Christian gentleman and an old friend, whom I have known for nearly fifty years. He will be sorely missed. The Friends of Saint Benedict Center wish to extend their sincere and heartfelt condolences to the children and grandchildren of Jack McManus upon the occasion of their grievous loss. Jack was waked at the McDonald Funeral Home in Wakefield, on Sunday, March 10th. A traditional Latin Requiem Mass was celebrated at Saint Adelaide Parish in Peabody, on Monday, March 11th. Jack McManus was buried in Lakeside Cemetery in Wakefield, Massachusetts---a community that was his home for many years---on March 11, 2024. O God, the Creator and Redeemer of all the faithful, grant to the souls of Your servants and handmaids departed the full remission of their sins, that, through our devout prayers, they may obtain the pardon, which they have always desired, Who live and reign, world without end. Amen. Collect of the the First Mass on All Souls Day from the Roman Missal of Saint Pius V Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace. Amen. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen. Prayers for the Bystanders at the Grave from the Roman Ritual of Saint Pius V It is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they might be loosed from sins. — 2 Maccabees 12:4 Comments are closed.
|