The Chancellor’s Office received word of the passing of Reverend Paul John Mangiafico, 81, on Saturday evening, April 5, 2025, at Bayfront Hospital, St. Petersburg, following a serious car accident late last week.

Father Mangiafico was born on September 1, 1943, in New Britain, Connecticut and was a retired priest of the Archdiocese of Hartford, for which he was ordained to the priesthood on May 23, 1970.  During his nearly 55 years of priestly ministry, he served in parishes in the Hartford Archdiocese for 31 years, after which he came to the Diocese of Saint Petersburg on a temporary medical leave in October 2001, providing assistance at the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle, St. Petersburg.  At the permission of his archbishop, he remained in our Diocese and was later appointed as Parochial Administrator pro tempore of the Cathedral, from January 1 to September 1, 2003.  He was then appointed Parochial Administrator pro tempore of All Saints Parish, Clearwater from September 1 to November 1, 2003, and then as Parochial Vicar of Holy Family Parish, St. Petersburg, from November 1, 2003, until begin granted retirement status on September 1, 2013.

During his retirement years, he continued to provide service to parishes throughout the Diocese of Saint Petersburg, particularly as Chaplain of Our Lady’s Tridentine Mass Society, offering the Traditional Latin Mass, according to the 1962 Roman Missal at Our Lady’s Chapel, at the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle, St. Petersburg.  He later provided regular assistance with Latin Masses at Epiphany of Our Lord Parish, Tampa, where he was serving until his hospitalization.

Funeral arrangements are as follow:

Requiem (Funeral) Mass in the Traditional Latin Form: Wednesday, April 23, 2025, 7:00 p.m., at Epiphany of Our Lord Catholic Church, 2510 E. Hanna Avenue, Tampa.
Celebrant: Rev. Edwin Palka.  Since concelebration is not permitted according to the 1962 Roman Missal, priests who wish to attend are invited to do so, sitting in the congregation and wearing a cassock, surplice, and black or purple stole, or simply wearing a clerical suit.

Burial will take place on Thursday, May 1, 2025, 1:00 p.m. in St. Mary’s Cemetery, 1141 Stanley Street, New Britain, Connecticut, preceded by recitation of the Rosary at 12:00 p.m., at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 1755 Stanley Street, New Britain, Connecticut.

Also, a Memorial Mass will be held on Saturday, May 10, 2025, 11:00 a.m., at Holy Family Catholic Church, 200 78^th Avenue NE, St. Petersburg.
Main Celebrant: Rev.  John Tapp.  Priests wishing to concelebrate are invited to bring an alb and white stole.

Expressions of sympathy may be sent to: Epiphany of Our Lord Parish c/o Mrs. Jennifer Whiskeyman, 2510 East Hanna Avenue, Tampa, Florida, 33610.

Please keep Father Mangiafico’s surviving family members and loved ones in your kind thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

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May his soul and the souls of all the faithful
departed, by the mercy of God, rest in peace!