Deacon Sefo Manu ‘gave his life to Christ’

IC photo/Linda Petersen.

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Father John Evans, vicar general for the Diocese of Salt Lake City, blesses the casket of Deacon Sefo Manu prior to the funeral Mass.

SALT LAKE CITY — The funeral Mass for Deacon Sosefo “Sefo” Manu, 69, was celebrated by Father John Evans, vicar general, on Nov. 11, 2024 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Salt Lake City. Concelebrants were Father Anastasius Iwuoha, parish administrator, and several priests of the diocese. Several deacons assisted.

Deacon Manu, who died on Nov. 2, was a faithful deacon, Fr. Evans said in remarks preceding the Mass. “We remember his baptism, his beginning of his Christian journey, how he gave his life to Christ over and over and over again.”

Sosefo “Sefo” Aselemo Manu was born in Nuku’alofa, Tonga on April 17, 1955, to Siulolovao Palu and Veleveni Manu. He was the fourth oldest of nine siblings: Ahofa, Tevita, Suliana, Malakai, Tofua, Sima, Manu and Lupe. He was baptized on April 27, 1955, by Father Felise Afei at the church of St. John the Baptist in Pea Tongatapu, Tonga. In 1976 he moved to Utah to study at Utah Technical College. He married his wife RoseAnna on Dec. 6, 1986, at St. Patrick’s and they raised two children in Salt Lake City. On Nov. 30, 1997, he was ordained a deacon by the Most Rev. George H. Niederauer, eighth Bishop of Salt Lake City at the Cathedral of the Madeleine. He was assigned to St. Patrick Church, where he served until his retirement from active ministry.

“Sefo’s life was that of dedication to his ministry, and second, to his church, his community and to his family,” Fr. Iwuoha said in his homily at the deacon’s funeral. “His life taught us to be faithful in service, to love, to laugh, to suffer with patience and ultimately to die with hope.”

 In 2020 Deacon Manu underwent open heart surgery. Although he initially seemed to recover, complications led to several more surgeries and he never fully regained his health, Fr. Iwuoha said.

“Initially Sefo looked forward to recovery and to continue his ministry here at his church, which he loved so much and knew that he was so much appreciated by all,” Fr. Iwuoha said, adding that the health problems led to the deacon’s reluctant retirement from active ministry in 2022.

“He will be greatly remembered, missed by all in this job, especially myself,” Fr. Iwuoha said. “Sefo was a perfect gentleman with a measure of faithfulness, a man with deep personal convictions about his faith.”

Fr. Iwuoha also praised Deacon Manu’s wife RoseAnna, who supported him in his ministry and was by his side throughout his years of illness.

“Thanks, RoseAnna, for all the sacrifices you made for him,” he said. “I will appeal to everyone here to treat this woman with the utmost compassion and kindness, because she has been through a lot. There was no time when I went to see Sefo that she was not there.”

Deacon Manu is survived by his wife, sons Tevita (Afradydi) and Alekisanita (Penny), and grandchildren Pearl, Alekisanita and Paige. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Malakai.

Memorial donations may be made to RoseAnna Manu’s Zelle account (phone number 801-949-3841) or on Venmo to RoseAnna_Manu.