Reverend Paul J. Mangiafico

LARGO FL - Rev. Father Paul Mangiafico age 81 tragically passed away from injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident on Saturday, April 5, 2025 in FL.

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 the 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 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 recently.

Fr. Mangiafico did not embrace retirement as relaxation. Rather, he used it as an opportunity to serve more with the additional time he had. He did much more than assist with Latin Masses. He celebrated them with joy and reverence! He also heard confessions, visited the sick, baptized babies, performed weddings, and acted as a spiritual director for those discerning a vocation. He served as the Chaplain for the Knights of Columbus, Fr. Vincent Capodanno, Council 14405, and as the leader of the Epiphany Exodus 90 fraternity. He also regularly celebrated Masses and heard confessions at the House of Prayer in Clearwater.

Funeral services for Rev Father Mangiafico will be held on Wednesday April 23, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. in the Traditional Latin Form at Epiphany of Our Lord Catholic Church, 2510 E. Hanna Avenue, Tampa.

Fr. Mangiafico will be buried in his hometown of New Britain, Connecticut. Family and friends will gather at noon for a recitation of the Rosary at St. Francis of Assisi, 1755 Stanley St., New Britain, CT, followed at 1:00pm by the Committal at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery, Stanley St., New Britain, CT.

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

In lieu of flowers, Father Mangiafico has requested donations to The Dennis Paul Devin Memorial Scholarship Fund through the University of Hartford. Please continue praying for the repose of Fr. Mangiafico’s soul, and keep surviving family members and beloved parishioners in your prayers during this difficult time.

Requiescat in pace.

Casey’s Eastside Memorial Funeral Home and Cremation Care 1987 East Main St Waterbury CT 06705 has been honored to care for Rev Father Mangiafico and his family during this difficult time. Loving kindness is always welcome, and it only takes a moment to offer a message of condolence or words of comfort or share a memory of someone important to you with your family and friends. Please visit the funeral home’s tribute page at www.caseyfunerals.com to do so.