McManamin, Francis G. (Father)

Jesuit Father Francis G. McManamin died on Feb. 24, 2018, at the age of 93.

He was born in Danville, Pennsylvania, on Sept. 15, 1924. He graduated from St. Edward’s High School in Shamokin, Pennsylvania, and St. Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland. He entered the Society of Jesus at the Novitiate of St. Isaac Jogues in Wernersville, Pennsylvania, in 1951. He received a master’s degree in American history and a Ph.D. in American and church history from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. He was ordained a priest on June 18, 1961.

Fr. McManamin began what would be the start of many years at Loyola University Maryland as a professor of history and as the department chair from 1963 to 1970. He then taught history and Japanese history for two years at Sophia University in Tokyo. Returning to the States, he spent a year teaching history at Wheeling Jesuit University, a year as parochial vicar at Holy Trinity Parish in Washington, D.C., and a year teaching history at the University of Scranton.

In 1975, Fr. McManamin traveled to Rome to serve in the Curia as the secretary to the American assistant. He returned in 1977 and taught history at Saint Joseph’s University for three years before serving a year as parochial vicar at Old St. Joseph’s Church in Philadelphia. 1981 brought Fr. McManamin back to Loyola University Maryland where he would stay for more than 25 years. He did take a year in 1990 to teach history at Lujiang University in Fugian, China. While at Loyola, he served as a professor of history and as a chaplain and counselor for athletes.

In 2008, Fr. McManamin became a pastoral minister at St. Alphonsus Rodriguez Church in Woodstock, Maryland. He moved to the Colombiere Jesuit Community in Baltimore in 2011, and then to Manresa Hall Jesuit Community in 2013, praying for the Church and the Society of Jesus.