Photos courtesy of St. Paul Inside the Walls, Madison, New Jersey

By Steve Sears

Fr. Paul Manning was the recipient of an “Education Award” from the Assumption College for Sisters at their virtually-hosted 21st Annual Caring Basket Gala, which was held on Thursday, March 31, 2022.

Fr. Manning has a love of nature and wildlife courtesy of his early years growing up in rural Morris County, and for him the spirit of nature, the spirit of God, and teaching and learning have been fond partners in his life. 

Fr. Manning spent 19 years as a chaplain, theology teacher, and President at Morris Catholic High School in Denville. He is the current Vicar for Evangelization for the Archdiocese of Paterson and Executive Director of Madison’s St. Paul Inside the Walls. “I worked in the field of education for the Diocese of Paterson for many years,” Fr. Manning says. “I was a chaplain and teacher, and the President of Morris Catholic High School for 14 years, and I was the Vicar for Education for a number of years as well.” He served also in the latter role while pastor of St. Philip’s Parish in Clifton. As Vicar for Education, he worked closely with the school offices and superintendents in overseeing all of diocesan schools. 

His time at Morris Catholic is very special to Fr. Manning. He was initially surprised when then Archdiocese of Paterson Bishop Frank Rodimer assigned him to the school. “I had not been educated with Catholic schools until the seminary, but I quickly grew to be convinced of the value of a Catholic education. I found Morris Catholic to be big enough to provide many academic and extracurricular activities and opportunities to students, but small enough to create a close community. A really positive environment in which to learn and grow, and it was the right size in my opinion. I think what’s important about Catholic schools in general and Morris Catholic in particular is that we educate the whole person, body, mind and spirit. Being attentive to the spirit and being attentive to the soul is one of the most important things we can do.” Working at Morris Catholic also put him in touch with the Sisters of Christian Charity, who then staffed the school and still do. “I worked with them closely over 14 years, and the convent where the Assumption College for Sisters is, once housed the Sisters that work at the high school. I’ve had a long relationship with the Sisters of Christian Charity, which was why I was happy and humbled to be honored with the “Education Award,” because it’s going towards a cause that the Sisters of Christian Charity promote, and it’s a cause that is very dear to them, obviously.”

Fr. Manning grew up on the front pasture of his grandparents’ farm in Ironia, in an area that is now owned by Morris County. “We grew up with fields and woods, and so I from an early age had a great interest in wildlife, decided I wanted to pursue that as a career at Virginia Tech, so I went there to major in forestry and wildlife management,” he explains. “While I was there, I became in touch with a number of evangelical and born-again Christians who really challenged my faith. As a result of that, my faith deepened, and ultimately I discerned a call to the priesthood.”

The love of nature has never left him. “If I wasn’t doing this, I’d be doing that,” Fr. Manning says, who adds that he is proud of the “Education Award,” but is even more proud of what and whom he has taught over the years, as well as his own continuing education. “I think what makes a good educator is someone who always loves to be a learner,” he says.

Soon to be 36 years a priest, Fr. Manning calls his ordination day the happiest of his life, and he’s carried that joy with him to the present. “I often say, I see more beauty, love, and life in one year of my life being a priest than most people see in their whole lifetime. It’s just a wonderful, wonderful experience. I would not change my life for anything.”

Assumption College for Sisters (founded in 1953, www.acs350.org) and Morris Catholic High School (founded in 1957, www.morriscatholic.org) are located side-by-side on Morris Avenue in Denville, and St. Paul Inside the Walls is located at 377 Madison Avenue in Madison. Visit www.insidethewalls.org for more information.