Father Paul John Mangiafico

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 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.

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 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.

Since concelebration is not permitted according to the 1962 Roman Missal, priests who wish to attend are invited to do so, preferably wearing a cassock.

Fr. Mangiafico will be buried in New Britain, Connecticut. Family and friends will gather at noon for a Rosary at St. Francis of Assisi, 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.