Padua Academy principal Cindy Mann reinstated by St. Anthony parish

St. Anthony of Padua Parish announced Tuesday that Cindy Mann has been reinstated as principal of Padua Academy, under the terms of her most recent contract.

"I look forward to immediately returning to my school family after the Easter break," 68-year-old Mann said in a statement after the announcement. "I thank Fr. Waseline and the Oblates for resolving this dispute and I am certain that we will work tirelessly to heal all hurts and join in the effort to continue the success which is Padua Academy and St. Anthony’s parish.

"Our Bishop, W. Francis Malooly, played an indispensable role and was a good shepherd for his flock throughout our difficulties. I love our parents and this could not have happened without their tireless efforts and prayers. My girls stood by me and picked me up when I was down. I know they will remember throughout their lives that good can come out of every difficult situation as long as we stick together and rely on our heavenly Father. I can’t wait to see you and give each of you a big hug."

Padua's Board of Trustees said it, in its advisory role, has been working tirelessly with Diocesan officials and the Oblates of St. Francis De Sales for Mann’s reinstatement

"As a Church community, our actions must glorify God," the board said in a statement. "As the Padua community, our mission demands that we act “softly but strongly” always with Him in our view. Even in difficult times WE ARE ONE BODY, the Church. As we move forward in the spirit of reconciliation and forgiveness, our actions and words as Padua’s Advisory Board of Trustees will continue to reflect the love and care we are called by God to give."

The announcement comes less than two weeks after Mann was abruptly fired for "insubordination" and just days before Good Friday and Easter, holidays commemorating the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Her dismissal set off a series of protests and threatened to divide the Catholic community right in the midst of Holy Week, with some strongly in favor of Mann's reinstatement and others less than eager to see her return.

After a tumultuous 12 days, students of the all-girls school and their parents said they were elated to hear of Mann’s reinstatement before students were set to be off for Easter break.

"I am so happy that she is able to come back and be with all of her family," one student, Colleen McClintock, said. "She deserves all of the love everyone is giving her and I can not believe how united the whole Padua community has been through all of this, we fought softly but strongly to get her home and it worked. I hope from this outcome everyone can see and hopefully one day experience the love and support Mrs. Mann gave all of us. I truly believe that Padua was not the same without her and to get her back means the world to not only me but the whole school."

Ruth Langrehr, whose daughter is a junior at the Wilmington school, said: “We’re just absolutely beyond thrilled. The Padua community can get back to healing and facing the holy weekend as a community.

“We’re just thrilled it’s resolved today and Mrs. Mann will be back in the building ... to be back with her girls.”

"I'm really excited," one mom, Debbie Spych, said after school Tuesday. "I think it's the best thing in the world that we have her reinstatement prior to Easter."

Other parents celebrated on Facebook.

"God is good," one said. "Prayers answered," said another.

"I am so incredibly proud of Padua Academy," 2003 Padua Academy graduate Kelly Gondek Renshaw said. "I’m proud of the alums and community members who raised their voices, I’m proud of the parents who stood behind their daughters and supported them, and I’m proud of the Salesianum boys who stepped gracefully into their role as gentlemen. I am most proud of my Littlest Sisters, who have had an absolutely bonkers week and a half but showed the world the meaning of Suaviter sed Fortiteir. With very little adult guidance, they organized, spoke, led, refused to sit still and look pretty, and became national news. And the fact that they so passionately fought for Mrs. Mann while using one of Mrs. Mann’s own lessons speaks volumes of how much they love and respect her: Never give up on your sister. The future is looking brighter."

After the principal’s March 16 ouster, students and parents had promised to withhold money to the parish. Emails revealed Mann had questioned the financial relationship between the parish and the school, resulting in her firing.

On Feb. 2, Rev. Nicholas Waseline, the 67-year-old pastor of St. Anthony parish, ordered that money be assessed against Padua Academy in the form of a "stewardship collection," according to an email dated that day. Mann questioned the justification for the assessment in an email to the school's Board of Trustees.

On March 16, Waseline sent a letter to Mann informing her she was being terminated immediately.

Since then Mann has hired Wilmington attorney Thomas Neuberger, whose law firm represented most of the more than 150 abuse victims who filed suit against the diocese and religious orders in Delaware, including the Oblates of St. Francis de Sales, in the early 2000s.

On Sunday, Neuberger announced that negotiations with the Oblates, a congregation of Roman Catholic priests and brothers, had fallen apart. The Oblates, in turn, said they have no authority over the hiring and firing of parish personnel. The parish fired back at Neuberger, expressing doubt Mann could even perform her job if she were reinstated, given reports about her health.

Since then, the parish appears to have had a change of heart. A spokesman for Diocese of Wilmington announced Mann's reinstatement mid-afternoon Tuesday in a short statement.

"Fr. Waseline took this action in the best interests of Padua Academy and its students, and in the hope that Mrs. Mann and he can work together for the benefit of both the academy and the parish," the statement said. "Mrs. Mann may return to work as soon as her treating physician certifies that she is able to resume her duties as principal.

"After Mrs. Mann returns to work, as the end of the school year approaches, Fr. Waseline and she will discuss the renewal of her contract. The parish is willing to consider a two-year renewal, which would be inconsistent with diocesan policy, but the Diocese is willing to make an exception for Mrs. Mann under the circumstances."

The Oblates released a statement about Mann's reinstatement.

"We Oblates are grateful that healing may begin at Padua and proud of the commitment of Fr. Waseline and Mrs. Mann to work together advance the Gospel there, especially for the faith lives of the young women in the school," it said. "During this Holy Week, we pray that the humility, mercy, and forgiveness that ground this central experience of our faith will be with all leaders of the St. Anthony and Padua communities to share it with those they lead. "

Neuberger, who was treating Mann's labor dispute as pro-bono case, said: “It is an Easter miracle. It’s a day of new birth, and I am sure good working relationships will abound at Padua and St. Anthony’s.”

PADUA & CINDY MANN

St. Anthony parish fires back at lawyer for Padua Academy's Cindy Mann

Padua principal Cindy Mann to students: 'I am so proud of all of you'

Padua principal's attorney: Mann's firing was discriminatory, gender-based

Emails between Padua principal, St. Anthony's pastor Waseline show why she was fired

Contact Jessica Bies at (302) 324-2881 or jbies@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter @jessicajbies.