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A notorious 1980s mobster turned motivational speaker is coming to Holy Name Catholic Church at 7:30 p.m. May 4 to speak about his conversion to Christianity.
Known as the Prince of the Mafia, Michael Franzese, 74, was involved in a scheme to defraud the government out of gasoline taxes made in Manhattan, where his crew pocketed nine cents per gallon. Franzese pocketed up to $8 million per week from the arrangement.
Fortune Magazine ranked Franzese as number 18 on its list of "Fifty Most Wealthy and Powerful Mafia Bosses" in 1986, while Vanity Fair listed Franzese as one of the most influential mob bosses since Al Capone. He was also portrayed in the 1990s film "Goodfellas" by actor Joesph Bono.
Franzese was serving prison time in 1991 for violating his probation agreement, after previously completing 43 months in a Florida prison on state racketeering charges, when a prison guard gave him a Bible, according to a Chicago Tribune article.
He quit the Mafia in 1995 and started a career as a motivational speaker based in California, renouncing his previous lifestyle.
Despite some parishioners scratching their heads, Father Brian L. Warchola said many local residents are intrigued to hear from Franzese on May 4.
Considering that crime is a popular genre in media, he said, Franzese's story is something that will grab people's interest when attending the speaking event at the parish located at 500 N. Julian St. in Ebensburg.
Warchola hopes attendees "enjoy the time hearing from someone they probably would never hear from."
This isn't Warchola's first time inviting big names to speak at his parish. NCAA Notre Dame track star and bobsled Olympian Jadin O'Brien visited Holy Name in March, while Diocese of Nashville Exorcist Father Dan Reehil came in September 2024.
O'Brien brought in more than 500 guests to Holy Name's event, and Reehil welcomed more than 1,000 guests.
Speakers bring something different and unique to the Ebensburg church, Warchola said, as attendees can also meet people who both belong to or don't belong to the parish and form friendships.
"I think it gives them an opportunity to come together and pray," he said.
Mirror Staff Writer Colette Costlow is at 814-946-7414.