Edward J. Flanagan
Edward Joseph Flanagan | |
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Archdiocese | Omaha |
Orders | |
Ordination | 26 July 1912 |
Personal details | |
Born | Edward Joseph Flanagan 13 July 1886 |
Died | 15 May 1948 Berlin, Germany | (aged 61)
Buried | Dowd Memorial Chapel Immaculate Conception Parish Boys Town, Nebraska, US |
Nationality | Irish |
Denomination | Catholic |
Occupation | Founder of Boys Town |
Education | Bachelor of Arts (1906) Master of Arts (1908) |
Alma mater | Mount St. Mary's University Emmitsburg, Maryland, US |
Ordination history of Edward J. Flanagan | |||||||||||||||
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Right Rev. Monsignor Edward Joseph Flanagan (13 July 1886 – 15 May 1948) was an Irish-born priest of the
Flanagan's work became widely known, especially after he was played by Spencer Tracy in the movie Boys Town (1938). In the post-World War II era, Flanagan was invited by General Douglas MacArthur to visit Japan and Korea, and later Austria and Germany, to give him advice about improving conditions for children in the occupied countries.
In 2012 the Catholic Diocese of Omaha initiated the process for canonization of Fr. Flanagan. That year he was declared a "Servant of God". Documentation of the cause was sent to the Vatican in 2015.
Early years
Flanagan was born in the townland of Leabeg, County Roscommon, near the village of Ballymoe, County Galway, Ireland.[1] His parents were John (a herdsman) and Honoria Flanagan.[2] He attended Summerhill College, Sligo, Ireland.
In 1904, he emigrated to the United States with his sister Nellie. He attended
He then continued his studies in Rome, living at the Capranica while taking classes at Gregorian University. He returned home to Omaha due to his health in the winter of 1908 and took an accounting job at Cudahy Packing Company. Flanagan returned to Europe the following autumn, entering the Royal Imperial Leopold Francis University in Innsbruck, Austria, where he was ordained a priest in 1912.[4]
He returned to the US, where his first assignment was as assistant pastor at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in O'Neill, Nebraska. He was then transferred to St. Patrick's Church in Omaha and was present during the Tornado outbreak sequence of March 1913 responding to the dead and injured. In 1916, Flanagan established a homeless shelter for transient workers.[3] He became a US citizen in 1919.
Middle years and Boys Town
Flanagan was moved by the plight of youth. In 1917, he founded a home for homeless boys in Omaha. Bishop
Flanagan's work became widely known, especially after the 1938 release of an
Later years
Flanagan served on several committees and boards dealing with the welfare of children. He also published articles on child welfare. Internationally known by the 1940s, in 1946 Flanagan traveled to the Republic of Ireland, where he was appalled by conditions in the children's institutions. He described them as "a national disgrace". When his observations were published after returning to Omaha, Irish print media attacked him, as did the Oireachtas.[7][3]
General MacArthur, who was leading the Allied occupation of Japan, invited Fr Flanagan to Japan and Korea in 1947 to advise on child welfare. He also invited him to review conditions the next year in occupied territory in Austria and Germany, where Flanagan traveled in 1948.
While in Germany, Flanagan died on 15 May 1948 of a heart attack. His body was returned to the United States. He is interred at Dowd Memorial Chapel of the Immaculate Conception Parish in Boys Town, Nebraska.[citation needed]
Canonization process opened in 2012
On 25 February 2012, the Catholic Archdiocese of Omaha opened the canonization process for Flanagan. At a 17 March 2012 prayer service at Boys Town's Immaculate Conception Church, he was given the title, "Servant of God".
This is the first of four titles bestowed in the process of canonization as a Catholic saint, if that is approved. The local investigation was completed in June 2015, including documentation of miracles, and the results forwarded to the Vatican.[8]
Legacy and awards
- Flanagan received many awards for his work with delinquent and homeless boys. Pope Pius XI named him in 1937 as a Domestic Prelate, with the title Monsignor.
- Flanagan was inducted into the Nebraska Hall of Fame in 1965.
- A bust of Flanagan was created in 1967 by Paul Granlund for the Nebraska Hall of Fame.
- In 1986, the United States Postal Service issued a 4¢ Great Americans series postage stamp honoring him.
- There is a portrait statue dedicated to Fr. Edward J. Flanagan in Ballymoe in County Galway.
Representation in other media
- MGM arranged for another statuette to be inscribed and gave it to Flanagan at Boys Town. It read: "To Father Flanagan, whose great humanity, kindly simplicity, and inspiring courage were strong enough to shine through my humble effort. Spencer Tracy."[6]
- The sequel Men of Boys Town (1941), also starred Tracy.[6]
References
- ^ "Mercy! Mercy". Time. 7 December 1931. Archived from the original on 15 December 2008. Retrieved 21 June 2007.
He was Father Edward J. Flanagan. Father Flanagan was born in Roscommon, Ireland, 45 years ago.
- ^ "Roscommon Census, 1901". leitrim-roscommon.com.
- ^ a b c "Biography : Father Flanagan League". fatherflanagan.org.
- ^ "Father Edward J. Flanagan". Boys Town.
- ^ "History Ireland". 13 February 2013.
- ^ ISBN 0743410432.
- ^ "On this day: Fr. Edward Flanagan, the founder of Boy's Town, was born in Roscommon". IrishCentral.com. 13 July 2021.
- ^ "Sainthood effort: Omaha Archdiocese completes investigation of Boys Town founder Father Flanagan". Omaha.com.