Fr. Charles Mangano

  On a warm summer evening in 1999, a young charismatic priest   stood in front of a microphone before 40,000 people in Lourdes, France. A   deafening silence fell over the crowd as he began to sing the words of "Gentle   Woman", a ballad praising Mary, the Mother of God. Yet if this priest had listened   to the words of a music teacher from his childhood this moment would have   never   taken place.

Father Charles' musical interests began at the age of twelve. Although his music   teacher told him that he was tone deaf, he persevered through the   encouragement  of his family and the grace of God. At sixteen he was playing   guitar and singing for a weekly prayer group. Over the next several years, Father   Charles played with the family band, entered CYO competitions, played for   various church functions and was in an off Broadway production

Father Charles' love of music developed into a much deeper and stronger love -   his love of the Lord. He was ordained a Roman Catholic priest for the diocese of   Rockville Centre in 1990. Shortly after, he began to integrate his music into his   priestly ministry. "Through my music, I hope to bring people closer to God and to   aid them in their journey toward wholeness and integration". It was during his first   assignment at St. Catherine of Sienna that people began to encourage him to   share his gift of music by recording it professionally. Through the encouragement   and financial backing of his parishioners, family and friends, Father Charles   released his first album, LEAD ME LORD, in the fall of 1992. Due to the   overwhelming response, he soon began work on his second album, I CALL YOU   FRIEND, and enlisted the vocal talent of his sister Laurie, and the services of   musical arranger, Angelo DiPippo.

Father Charles and Laurie produced five additional albums, THE HEART OF   CHRISTMAS, TRUST HIS HEART, CELEBRATE JESUS, A CHRISTMAS PRAYER  and GOD'S UNBELIEVABLE LOVE along with producing videos and a DVD of their major concert events.   They have performed internationally and completed ten seasons as hosts of their   own television show, a program of faith sharing, music and prayer on Long   Island’s Telecare Network and  Brooklyn and Manhattan’s The Prayer Channel,   which also aired Laurie’s “New York Woman”.  They have appeared at countless   venues from "Nights of Recollection" at local parishes to sold-out concerts at   Westbury Music Fair (now known as Northfork Theater), the Tilles Center for the   Performing Arts, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts at Alice Tully Hall, and Avery Fisher Hall in New   York as well as the Cathedral Basilica of St. James, Brooklyn.  They are currently   working on their seventh Christian album. Their goal has always been the same,  to  convey the awesome love of God so that people will be touched with a re  newed sense of faith and the courage to live it out.

A portion of the proceeds from all album sales and ticketed events go to several   charities, including Little Flower Children's and Family Services of New York, Catholic   Charities, The Life Center of Long Island, Father Thomas Hartman Foundation for  Parkinson’s Research, Inc., Tomorrow’s Hope Foundation for Catholic  Elementary  School Education, the Carol Baldwin Breast Care Center and the  West Maui Domestic Abuse Task Force. To date, Father Charles and Laurie  have donated in excess of $285,000 to these and other worthwhile causes.

Father Charles continues in his primary vocation as a parish priest. He is currently pastor of the Curé of Ars Church in Merrick, New York. He has also taken an  active role in fostering vocations to the priesthood and religious life by leading  annual vocation pilgrimages. Father Charles continues to pray that God will be  glorified through his priesthood, which he has consecrated to Our Lady.  

Fr. Charles & Laurie frequently ask question.

Parents

Laurie Mangano

A native of Long Island, Laurie began singing as a young child in elementary  school, as well as in the folk group of her local parish. It was at this early age that  she was singled out among other children as having a unique talent. Singing in  church taught and challenged her to examine her heart. As Laurie recalls, she  discovered God through song. She continues to have an intimate relationship with  God, relying on Him for strength, compassion, and companionship.

Laurie and other family members formed a band, performed at local functions,  and won many awards. These early performances paved the way for a budding  solo career, but left her unfulfilled. "Performing was fun but something very deep  was missing. Singing for God gave purpose to my song." She performed  liturgical  dance and sang throughout Long Island with the Spirit Life Center. As  an active member of her local parish, she was a cantor and religious education  teacher.

After her brother's ordination to the priesthood, Father Charles invited Laurie to  join in his new music ministry. This presented her with the opportunity to use her  angelic voice in a way she always dreamed. Together they have released seven  successful albums: LEAD ME LORD, I CALL YOU FRIEND, THE HEART OF  CHRISTMAS, TRUST HIS HEART, CELEBRATE JESUS, A CHRISTMAS  PRAYER and GOD'S UNBELIEVABLE LOVE along with producing videos and a DVD of their major  concert events.  They have performed internationally and have completed ten seasons as hosts of  their own television show, a program of faith-sharing, music and prayer on Long  Island's Telecare Network and Brooklyn and Manhattan’s The Prayer Channel,  which also aired Laurie’s “New York Woman”.  They have appeared at countless  venues from “Nights of Recollection” at local parishes to sold-out concerts at  Westbury Music Fair (now known as Northfork Theater), the Tilles Center for the  Performing Arts, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts at Alice Tully Hall and Avery Fisher Hall  in New  York, as well as The Cathedral Basilica of St. James, Brooklyn.  They are  currently  working on their seventh album. Their goal has always been the same to  convey the awesome love of God so that people will be touched with a renewed  sense of faith and the courage to live it out.  To further express her passion for  God, Laurie studied sign language and uses sign with song in this ministry.

A portion of the proceeds from all album sales and ticketed events go to several  charities, including Little Flower Children's and Family Services of New York, Catholic  Charities, The Life Center of Long Island, Father Thomas Hartman Foundation for  Parkinson’s Research, Inc., Tomorrow’s Hope Foundation for Catholic Elementary School Education, the Carol Baldwin Breast Care Center and the West Maui  Domestic Abuse Task Force.  To date, Father Charles and Laurie have donated  in excess of $285,000 to these and other worthwhile causes.

Along with her music ministry, Laurie is first and foremost a devoted wife and  mother. She has been a volunteer at The Life Center of Long Island and  developed a modeling career, gracing the pages of the New York Times and  Modern Bride, to name just two publications. She has also done runway work in  Manhattan and has been seen in several corporate video productions and  television commercials.

While modeling and volunteering were very important to her, Laurie now dedicates her time to this ever growing music ministry with her brother. "It is an honor to be  the instrument by which God is doing His Work. I will go wherever God leads me  for as long as He wishes."

Laurie Mangano & Fr. Charles Mangano

While Father Charles and Laurie were  singing  on  the  stage  of  Westbury   Music Fair, their sold out  audience  was  treated  to a spectacular  evening  of  a   real  musical  feast celebrating the King of Kings, Jesus Christ.

This brother and sister team began singing in their youth at various church   functions.  They discovered God and faith through song.  Father Charles’ love of   music developed into a much deeper and stronger love –  his  love  of  the  Lord,   which lead to his ordination as a Roman Catholic priest for the diocese of   Rockville Centre.  He was encouraged  to share his  gift  of  song  through    professional   recording,  funded   by  his parishioners, family and friends.  It was   at this point that Father Charles enlisted the vocal talent of his sister.  Laurie,  a   devoted  wife and mother,  who  was  an  active volunteer in many church   ministries and enjoyed her successful modeling career, was only too happy to join  her brother in song.

Together they have produced seven  successful  contemporary Christian albums:   LEAD ME LORD, I CALL YOU FRIEND, THE HEART OF CHRISTMAS, TRUST  HIS HEART, CELEBRATE JESUS, A CHRISTMAS PRAYER, and GOD'S UNBELIEVABLE LOVE  along with producing videos and a DVD of their major concert events. 

They are currently working on their seventh album. They have appeared at  countless venues from “Nights of Recollection” at local parishes to sold-out  concerts at Westbury Music Fair (now known as Northfork Theater), the Tilles  Center for the Performing Arts, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts at Alice  Tully Hall in New York, as well as the Cathedral Basilica of St. James, Brooklyn.   They have  also performed internationally.  They have completed ten seasons as  hosts of their own television show,  a program of faith-sharing, music and prayer  on Long Island’s Telecare Network and Brooklyn and Manhattan’s The Prayer  Channel, which also aired Laurie’s “New York Woman”.  Their goal has always  been the same: to convey the awesome love of God so that people will be  touched with a renewed sense of faith and the courage to live it out. 

A portion of the proceeds from all album sales and ticketed events go to several  charities, including Little Flower Children’s and Family Services of New York, Catholic  Charities, The Life Center of Long Island, Father Thomas Hartman Foundation for  Parkinson’s Research, Inc., Tomorrow’s Hope Foundation for Catholic  Elementary  School Education, the Carol Baldwin Breast Care Center and the  West Maui Domestic Abuse Task Force. To date, Father Charles and Laurie  have donated in excess of $285,000 to these and other worthwhile causes.

Through their voices, actions and total involvement in their music, it is evident that  God has raised them up for a very special work.  They are certainly touching and  changing hearts.