Most Rev. John R. Manz

Archdiocesan Bishop, Most Rev. John R. Manz, Dies
Manz was former pastor of St. Agnes of Bohemia Parish and auxiliary bishop emeritus for the Archdiocese of Chicago
Most Rev. John R. Manz, auxiliary bishop emeritus for the Archdiocese of Chicago and former pastor of St. Agnes of Bohemia Parish on Central Park Avenue in Chicago, passed away Saturday, July 15, 2023. He was 77 years old.
Manz was born in Chicago to Jeanne and Joseph Manz. He grew up in Chicago and Morton Grove and spent summers at his grandmother's farm. He attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary in Chicago, Niles College Seminary in Niles and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein. He began learning Spanish by working in the kitchen with religious sisters from Mexico and with landscaping crews in the summer. Later, he studied Spanish at Niles College Seminary and became fluent. In the process he came to appreciate and revere the Hispanic people and their culture. His experience in agriculture led him to work in support of Mexican farm workers.
Manz was ordained to the priesthood on May 12, 1971, by Cardinal John Cody, and he celebrated his first solemn Mass on May 16 of the same year at St. Martha Parish in Morton Grove. A nun who had told the mischievous young John that she would "roll over in her grave if he ever became a priest" attended his first Mass.
After ordination to the priesthood, Manz served as assistant pastor at Providence of God Parish on 18th Street, as associate pastor at St. Roman Parish on Washtenaw Avenue and later as pastor at St. Agnes of Bohemia where he served for 13 years, all in Chicago.
On Jan. 23, 1996, Manz was appointed as an auxiliary bishop by Pope John Paul II. He was consecrated on March 5, 1996 by Cardinal Joseph Bernardin with Bishop Wilton Gregory and Bishop Plácido Rodriguez serving as co-consecrators.
In the years after the episcopal ordination, Manz served on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' (USCCB) Committee on Migration and Refugee Services, as chairman and then as a member of the Committee on the Church in Latin America, as chairman of the Subcommittee on the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Refugees and Travelers, as chairman of the administrative committee and as a member of the Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church. Manz retired in 2021.
Manz is survived by his sister Linda Manz, of Richmond, Va.; nieces Cara (Drew) Haynie of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Diane (Rob) Smith of Richmond, Va., Angela Heffner of Richmond, Va., and Christina (Carl) Hultgren of Richmond, Va.; great nieces and nephews; and many relatives and close friends.
All Funeral Services will take place at Holy Name Cathedral, 735 North State Street, Chicago, Illinois. Visitation will be on Tuesday, July 25, 2023 from 2:00 to 9:00 p.m. A Rosary will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a Vigil starting at 7:00 p.m. The Funeral Mass will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 26, 2023. Cardinal Cupich will be the main celebrant. Free parking, for all Funeral Services at Holy Name Cathedral, is available at 14 W. Superior Street (between Dearborn Street and State Street). Please utilize any non-reserved parking space on Lower Level One (LL1) or Lower Level Two (LL2). Please only use parking garage entrance on Superior Street, any other parking entrance is not designated for Holy Name Cathedral.
Interment will occur at St. Mary's Cemetery in Galena, Illinois.
Livestreams of these services are noted below:
For further information please call 312-421-0936.