The Chancellor’s Office has learned of the passing of Reverend Oscar Zacarias Kozyra, O. de M., 79, a member of the Order of Our Lady of Mercy (Mercedarians), residing in the St. Peter Nolasco Residence, in St. Petersburg, on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, due to complications caused by pneumonia.

Father Kozyra was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina on September 26, 1945, and was ordained to the priesthood for the Order of Our Lady of Mercy on May 6, 1973. During his 52 years of priestly ministry, he taught in secondary schools in Argentina and provided formation to Mercedarian Novices and Sisters in Kerala, India.

He came to the Diocese of Saint Petersburg in 1996, providing assistance to St. Clement Parish, Plant City, where he was later assigned as Parochial Vicar, from 1997 to 1998. He was then appointed Parochial Vicar of Transfiguration Parish, St. Petersburg, serving from 1998 until 2006, when the Mercedarian community was relieved of the administration of the parish. He was later appointed as Campus Minister of Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, serving in this capacity from 2007 to 2014, while also providing ministry to inmates in the Pinellas County Jail. Among his many talents, he was proficient in Spanish, English, French, and German.

Since 2014, Father Kozyra has provided assistance primarily to the Spanish-speaking communities of parishes in central and southern Pinellas County, including Holy Cross and Transfiguration Parishes, St. Petersburg; St. Cecelia and St. Michael the Archangel Parishes, Clearwater; St. Justin, Martyr Parish, Seminole; and Most Holy Name of Jesus Parish, Gulfport. He was much loved by those to whom he ministered during his nearly 29 years in our Diocese and will be greatly missed by many.

All funeral services will take place at the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle, 5815 5th Avenue N., St. Petersburg, and are as follows:
Visitation: Thursday, May 22, 2025, 5:00-8:00 p.m. at Our Lady’s Chapel (next to the Cathedral Church)

Funeral Mass: Friday, May 23, 2025, 11:00 a.m., in the Cathedral Church; preceded by visitation from 9:30-10:30 a.m.
Clergy wishing to vest are invited to bring an alb and white stole.

Burial will take place at Holy Cross Cemetery, in Cleveland, Ohio, at a later date.

Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the Mercedarian Community, c/o St. Peter Nolasco Residence, 5650 7th Avenue N., St. Petersburg, FL 33710.

Please keep Father Kozyra’s Mercedarian confreres and loved ones in your kind thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

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May his soul and the souls of all the faithful
departed, by the Mercy of God, rest in peace!