Father Charles Mangano

Fr. Charles Mangano is a faith filled and joyful priest of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, New York. He was born on Long Island and is the youngest of four. During his teens he sang and played guitar with his sisters at his parish Prayer Group and Sunday Mass . Early on he felt a yearning for the priesthood and had the total support of his family. In 1984, while he was trying to discern his vocation, he made a pilgrimage to Italy. During that pilgrimage the group made a one day trip to Medjugorje where the alleged apparitions of Mother Mary were taking place. That day, August 15, 1984, he had a profound experience of the Blessed Mother who proved his vocation to him in a special way. As he looked around at all the priests sitting outside the Church and in the fields hearing confessions, he knew with certainty that that was what he wanted to do, to bring people to Jesus as a priest. Father was ordained in 1990 and began his first of four assignments as a priest. He also shares a music and TV ministry with his sister Laurie – evangelizing through these mediums. They have recorded 11 CDs and have donated over $375,000.00 to charity.

In 2004 Father became pastor of Curé of Ars Church in Merrick, New York where he continues today. Over the past three years he has come to know Pier Giorgio Frassati and has developed a deep devotion to him. He has dedicated a beautiful grotto and statue to Pier Giorgio’s honor at Curé of Ars, to which many come to pray. Although Father has led many pilgrimages throughout Europe and the Holy Land, this new found friendship with the Blessed Pier Giorgio was the catalyst for this pilgrimage.