Father
Flanagan
Son of
Ballymoe
Life Summary
Father Edward Joseph Flanagan founder of Boystown, Nebraska,
U.S.A., was born in Leabeg, Ballymoe, Co. Roscommon on the
banks of the River Suck on July 13th 1886. As a young boy he
spent much time minding sheep on the farm managed by his
father. In his home there was a great Irish hospitality, and
his family were deeply religious saying the rosary every
night. Many of the Flanagan family emigrated to the U.S.A.
including Nellie, Mary, Jane, and also Patrick who studied
for the priesthood.
Edward himself went to Drumatemple School in Ballymoe, and from
there went on to Summerhill College, Sligo, where he received his
secondary education. He too left Ireland, emigrating to the U.S.A.
where he also studied for the priesthood.
Throughout his years as a seminarian Edward suffered from chronic
bad health. This did not deter him however and he pursued his
studies in colleges and universities in the U.S.A., Rome and
Austria. In fact he was sent to the seminary in Innsbruck,
Austria, because the climate was deemed more conducive to his health
and well-being and it was in Austria that he was ordained a Catholic
Priest on the feast of St Anne, July 26th 1912.
Subsequently Fr. Flanagan returned to the U.S.A. and took up his
ministry in Omaha, Nebraska. From the outset he served
the poor and he first opened a home for elderly homeless people. At
this time he was shocked by what he saw on the streets of Omaha with
poor boys fighting, kicking, and rolling into filthy gutters.
In light of this he borrowed $90 dollars from a Jewish
friend which helped him to rent a house which he called “Fr
Flanagan’s Boys Home”. The boys were homeless or in trouble
with the courts. He brought great love, kindness,
hospitality, and a good education and holiness to those
neglected boys. Fr Flanagan encouraged his boys to set up
their own systems of local self government, electing a
Mayor, Municipal Officers, Court of Students, their own Post
Office, Barber Shop, Print Office (including their own
newspaper), Laundry Service, Farming services etc… And so
the “Home” became a “Town”.
Famous phrases associated with Boystown include: “There is no such
thing as a bad boy”, “He aint heavy he’s my brother Father”, and
“the work will continue you see whether I am there or not because
its God’s work and not mine”. He was immortalized in the Oscar
winning 1938 movie “Boystown” starring Spencer Tracy and Mickey
Rooney.
Fr Flanagan travelled to many countries at the request of several
U.S. Presidents to help children in need. He died on one such
journey in Berlin on May 15th 1948.
His remains are located in Dowd Chapel, Boystown.
Signs
of Holiness
His total
dedication to the care and development of youth in need
flowed out of a deep spiritual conviction that Christ called
him to his priesthood and ministry.
He was a
man of deep and constant prayer who urged others who worked
with him to give themselves to prayer.
His
spiritual vision and dedication generated a community of
loving concern in the adults who were inspired to share
their lives and talents with him in the service of youth.
His work ran
contrary to the common convictions and attitudes towards
youth in need in society at that time.
The
spiritual charism of his great love transformed the lives of
many youth in his time and continues to this day.
Confronted
by both criticism and harsh judgements on the part of some
Catholics, he reacted with patience and renewed dedication.
In a time of
crisis when the home was adjusting to new demands put upon
it by deeply damaged youth, his perceived presence was the
ultimate guiding norm.
Both his
person and his work have found a responsive echo in the
hearts and minds of people all over the world.
When he
became a national celebrity he retained a humble opinion of
himself available to those who needed his presence.
He was
prophetic in fearlessly proclaiming his conviction that
there is no such thing as a bad boy, a statement which grew
out of his faith vision.
He changed
the way America perceived and treated its vulnerable youth.
At a time
when society maintained a deep prejudice against persons of
colour, he ignored the restrictions and saw only the child
in need, he directly confronted prejudice.
While he
never enjoyed robust health, he did not allow his fragile
health to prevent him from full dedication to his work.
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