The Reverend Manuel Peter Ferreira, 90, died Sunday, September 6, 2020 at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River, after a period of declining health.
Father Ferreira was ordained as a diocesan priest by Bishop James L. Connolly on April 2, 1960 at Saint Mary of the Assumption Cathedral, Fall River.
Born and educated in Provincetown to the late John and Genevieve (Santos) Ferreira on January 24, 1930, he graduated from Provincetown High School. After high school he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served aboard the U.S.S. Midway from 1948-51.
He then attended St. Mary's Seminary in Kentucky and Pennsylvania.
He ministered in a number of diocesan parishes prior to retirement: St. Elizabeth's in Fall River; Our Lady of Mount Carmel, St. John the Baptist and Immaculate Conception Church, all in New Bedford, and St. Anthony in Taunton.
Father Ferreira also served as a notary and advocate for the Diocesan Tribunal. He was a member of the Diocesan Board of Education, and served as Dean of the New Bedford Deanery. He also was Taunton area director of the Catholic Charities Appeal and was chaplain American Legion Post 1 in New Bedford, the St. Vincent de Paul Society and the Prince Henry Society.
He is survived by his sister Elaine Kathleen Ferreira Cowart of Myrtle Beach, SC, nieces Cindi Cowart Campbell of Little River, SC and Wendy Cowart Morris (deceased spouse Les Morris) of Jupiter, FL, nephew Carl Douglas Cowart and spouse Patty of Huntsville, AL, great-nephew Joshua Craig Campbell and son Jonah of Leland, NC, great-niece Lindsay Genevieve Campbell Ashley and spouse Brian and their sons Shaw and Lochlan, as well as several very special cousins, extended family, and many friends.
Father Manny dearly loved his family, spending time in Provincetown at his “home away from home” with his late cousin, Gordon and wife Beverly Ferreira. He also enjoyed his Portuguese heritage, good food, good music, a corny joke, a walk among the dunes at his beloved beach, his Country, writing homilies and poems, visiting the sick and praying with them and for them, and a good belly laugh. But above all else, he loved his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
“Well done, good and faithful servant”!
His body will lie in state, Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020, from 4 to 7 PM in St. Peter the Apostle Church, 11 Prince Street, Provincetown. A concelebrated Funeral Mass will be Wednesday, Sept. 23 at 10:30 AM at St. Peter the Apostle Church. Due to the restrictions of Covid-19, space is limited, and facemasks are required. A private burial will follow at St. Peter the Apostle Cemetery.
The Funeral Mass will be live-streamed at www.stpeters-ptown.org.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Prince Henry Society Scholarship Foundation: The Prince Henry Society, New Bedford Chapter, P.O. Box 6726, New Bedford, MA 02742.