By Cristina Cabrera Jarro -

MIAMI | Father Raul Angulo, former pastor of Mother of Christ Parish in Miami, died Feb. 12, 2026. He was 79.

Born Feb. 14, 1946, in Jatibonico, Camaguey, Cuba, to Rafael and Fe Padron, his primary education took place in Cuba. On June 19, 1961 he arrived in the U.S. via Operation Pedro Pan. He attended St. Benedict High School in Shawnee, Oklahoma, then Miami Jackson High School in Miami, Florida, and Gainesville High School in Gainesville, Florida. He attended Central Florida Junior College, in Ocala, and the University of Florida in Gainesville.

At 19, Father Angulo attended a Cursillos de Cristiandad retreat where he felt the love of God but admitted years later to the Florida Catholic newspaper “I just couldn’t hack it. I simply did not want to continue (the relationship),” he explained.

He opened and managed a family restaurant, and at the insistence of his parents, he occasionally attended Mass.

“I prayed to God, if He was real, to make Himself manifest in my life,” Father Angulo said.

Slowly, he felt the Lord answer through events in his life. The film “It’s A Wonderful Life” renewed his spiritual longing. His niece’s serious illness and his family’s steadfast faith deepened his. And after a talk on Christian finances that recalled his Cursillos experience, he attended a retreat in Conger, Georgia, and “committed my life completely.”

Father Angulo returned to Gainesville and joined a charismatic renewal group and said, “before I knew it, I was more involved in the Church than in the family business.” When asked to consider the priesthood, he replied, ‘why not,’ sold the restaurant, and entered the seminary at 33 years old.

Originally studying for the Diocese of St. Augustine, Father Angulo transferred to the Archdiocese of Miami after his mother and sister moved to South Florida. He received formation at St. John Vianney Seminary, Miami, and St. Vincent de Paul Major Seminary, Boynton Beach, and served his diaconate at St. Louis Parish in Pinecrest. Father Angulo was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Miami by Archbishop Edward McCarthy on May 11, 1985.

“I want to bring healing to His people as He has healed me,” the 39-year-old said at his ordination.

“This is the greatest experience I have ever had. I’m so grateful to God. It took me 10 years to come to this moment, but He brought me here every step of the way…Isn’t He good?”

Father Angulo’s first assignment as a priest was to St. Patrick Parish, Miami Beach (1985-1986). During the height of the television series Miami Vice, he appeared briefly as a priest in a baptism scene filmed at St. Mary’s Cathedral.

Father Angulo later served as associate pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish, Hialeah (1986-1988) and St. Thomas the Apostle Parish, Miami (1988-1993).

In 1993, Father Angulo was named administrator of Mother of Christ Parish, Miami, and then pastor. He oversaw more than 40 ministries, seven youth groups, a day care, a school, and a summer camp, as well as the parish’s social services, St. Vincent de Paul Society, a domestic violence ministry, a job bank, psychological counseling, a Nueva Vida (New Life) program for addicts and spiritual renewal programs, Life in the Spirit seminars, and Emmaus retreats.

“Whenever anyone comes to him with an idea, he lets you run with it,” said Rita Rodriguez, Mother of Christ School’s first principal. “He empowered his parishioners. This is our parish.”

Father Angulo described his role as “to provide services and make sure that everybody’s needs are met.”

In 2010, he helped launch a ministry for the deaf and hard of hearing, hosting Emmaus retreats in American Sign Language (ASL) and celebrating Masses twice a month.

He remained at Mother of Christ until his retirement on July 1, 2017.

FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS

• A viewing for Father Angulo will take place Monday, Feb. 16, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., with a vigil prayer service at 8 p.m. at Mother of Christ Church, 14141 SW 26 Street, Miami.
• The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Archbishop Thomas Wenski Tuesday, Feb. 17 at 10 a.m. at Mother of Christ Church, followed by interment at Our Lady of Mercy Cemetery, 11411 NW 25th Street, Doral.