Dominic Manucy

Dominic Manucy (December 20, 1823 – December 7, 1885) was an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as the first vicar apostolic of Brownsville in Texas (later the Diocese of Corpus Christi) from 1874 until he died in 1885. He also served as the third bishop of Mobile in Alabama for several months in 1884.

Biography Early life Dominic Manucy was born on December 20, 1823, in St. Augustine in the Florida Territory, the son of Pedro Manucy and Maria Lorenzo. His grandfather, Josef Manucy, came to Florida from the Spanish island of Menorca as an indentured servant, working at the settlement of British diplomat Andrew Turnbull in New Smyrna. Conditions were so abysmal at New Smyrna that the settlers rebelled against Turnbull and moved to St. Augustine. One of Josef's other descendants was the historian Albert Manucy (1910–1997).

Dominic Manucy was raised with his second cousin, Anthony Dominic Pellicer, the future bishop of the Diocese of Antonio. He and Pellicer studied for the priesthood together at Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama.

Priesthood Manucy was ordained by Bishop Michael Portier for the Diocese of Mobile on August 15, 1850. At that time, the diocese included the new State of Florida as well as Alabama. After his ordination, the diocese assigned Manucy to work at the missions in Warrington and Apalachicola, Florida. In 1855, he was appointed assistant pastor of Immaculate Conception Cathedral Parish in Mobile, Alabama. Manucy was named pastor in 1861 of St. Vincent's Parish in Mobile.

Bishop of Mobile On January 18, 1884, Manucy was named bishop of Mobile by Pope Leo XIII. However, Manucy was to remain in charge of the Apostolic Vicariate of Brownsville until the pope named a successor there. He was installed in Mobile on March 30, 1884.

By the summer of 1884, Manucy's health had deteriorated so much that he submitted his resignation as bishop of Mobile to the Vatican. However, it was rejected by Cardinal Giovanni Simeoni. Manucy asked again a few months later and his resignation as bishop was accepted on September 27, 1884. He still remained the vicar apostolic of Brownsville. Manucy attended the third Plenary Council of Baltimore, a meeting of all the bishops in the United States, from November to December 1884.

Death Manucy was re-appointed vicar Apostolic of Brownsville by Leo XIII on February 7, 1885, with the titular see of Maronea. However, his illness prevented him from returning to Texas. Manucy died in Mobile on December 4, 1885, at age 61. He is buried in the crypt of Immaculate Conception Cathedral.

Episcopal succession