Father Jose Maniyangat 

Father  Jose  Maniyangat  was born on July 16, 1949 in Kerala, India to his parents, Joseph and Theresa. He is the eldest of seven children: Jose, Mary, Theresa, Lissama, Zachariah, Valsa and Tom. 

At the age of fourteen, he entered the minor seminary to begin studies for the priesthood.  He was ordained as a priest on January 1, 1975 and served as a missionary in the Diocese of Thiruvalla.

While teaching at the minor seminary of St. Thomas in Bathery in 1978, he became a charismatic and began conducting charismatic retreats and conferences.  

After his motorcycle accident and life-after-death experience, according to the message of God, he became a missionary in the United States of America.  Father  Jose worked in the Boise,  Idaho Diocese  1987-1989  and then became the Director  of  Prison Ministry  in  the  Orlando, Florida Diocese 1989 - 1992.

In  1992,  Father  Jose came  to  our St. Augustine  Diocese  where  he  was  first assigned  to  St. Matthew's  Parish  in Jacksonville 1992-1994.  He   was   then appointed    Parochial    Vicar   of   Assumption Church 1994 -1999. Father Jose was incardinated in the Diocese and is now a fulltime priest of the St. Augustine Diocese.

Since  June  1999,  Father  Jose  has been  pastor  of  St.  Mary's  Mother of Mercy  Catholic  church  in Macclenny, Florida.   He  is also the  Catholic  Chaplain for  Florida  State Prison  in  Starke, Union  Correctional  Institution in Raiford and Northeast Florida State Hospital  in Macclenny. 

Father Jose, is the Diocesan Spiritual Director of the Legion of Mary and has a charismatic healing ministry. He conducts healing missions in the parish,  major cities of the United States and countries  overseas.