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Signs
of holiness
His ministry flowed out of a
love for Christ.
He was a man of deep and
constant prayer, who inspired others to pray.
He generated a community of
loving concern in those who served youth with him.
His work ran contrary to
society’s attitudes toward youth in need at the time.
His graced love transformed the
lives of over 1400 youth in his time, and continues to transform
thousands with equal vitality and validity to this day.
Confronted by both criticism
and harsh judgments on the part of his fellow Catholics, he reacted with
patience and renewed dedication.
In years following his death,
when the Home was in crisis, his perceived presence was the ultimate
guiding norm.
His person and his work have
found a responsive echo universally; Boys Town is recognized as an image
of Christ’s unconditional love.
He was a prophet in his time;
recognizing and fearlessly proclaiming his conviction.
He never withdrew from direct
ministry to his co-workers and the youth; he retained a humble opinion
of himself and was available to all in need of his presence.
He ignored the prejudicial
restrictions of his country ministering to all races and confronting
racial injustices to his boys.
He did not allow his fragile
health to prevent him from full dedication to his work.
His caring concern went beyond
the borders of Boys Town, to children in need throughout the world.
Father Flanagan
Time Line
Born
July 13, 1886, Leabeg Farm,
Ballymoe, County Galway, Ireland.
Ordained, July
26, 1912, Innsbruck, Austria.
Founded Father
Flanagan’s Boys’ Home, 25th & Dodge, Omaha, December 12, 1917.
Moved Home to
German-American Home, South 13th St., Omaha, June 1, 1918.
Moved to
Overlook Farm (present site)
October 17, 1921.
Invested as
a monsignor, November 21, 1937.
World premiere
of movie, “Boys Town,” September
7, 1938.
Spoke out
against child
abuse in native Ireland on visit there, June, 1946.
Met
General MacArthur in Japan to develop care program for war orphans.
Sent to
Europe by President Truman to aide
war orphans. February 26, 1948.
Died
May 15, 1948,Berlin,
Germany.
Fr. Flanagan League
Prayer
O God, You
made Father Flanagan a great missionary to the troubled children of the
world. The light of faith sustained him in many dark days.
Grant that he
may be glorified by the church and that we may imitate his virtues of
love for the least of God's children and his great trust in Your
providence together with submission to Your holy Will.
We ask this
in the name of Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen.
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The Boys Town National Alumni
Association began the Father Flanagan League i order to spread devotion to their Founder,
Father Edward J. Flanagan. The League developed:
Advisory Council
Ed Flanagan, Chairman
Sharon Nelsen, Coordinator
Maureen Brady, Secretary
Dan Shields, Alumn
Monsignor Peter Dunne, Honorary Chaplain
Steve Wolf, Alumni
Reggie Welles, Alumni
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Prayer Groups
Monthly prayer group meets for
20 minutes at Father Flanagan's shrine in Dowd Chapel on the
second Tuesday immediately following the 11:40 a.m. daily
mass. A new
prayer leaflet is
developed for each month.
Materials and
new information are available at each session. You are invited to
participate in any or all of the sessions:
Calendar for 2007-08
12:00 noon - 12:20, 2nd
Tuesdays, Dowd Chapel
January 8
February 12
March 11
April 8
May 13
If you would like to establish a
Prayer Group for the
cause in your area, we will send you a guide sheet and all materials
necessary to begin and sustain a group. Information:
prayergroup@fatherflanagan.org
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Presentations
Presentations (30 to 45 minutes)
can be scheduled day time or evening, Monday through Saturday, 10:00
a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (start times), and are available for groups
within the Omaha or Lincoln Dioceses. The following format
can be shortened or lengthened depending on the time available.
To schedule a presentation
contact:
presentations@fatherflanagan.org
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Pilgrimages
Schedule may be adjusted for arrival between 9:00 and 11:00 a.m.;
Mass and Lunch times remain the same.
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9:30 Welcome
and Orientation at the Hall of History —over 85 years of history of
the sights and sounds of Boys Town: a film and tour of Father Flanagan
artifacts, including his mass vestments and altar vessels.
1 0:30
Visit Father Flanagan’s home and office. See the labor of love
desk made by his boys and presented to him as a Christmas present in
1939; the newly dedicated statue--a gift of the Alumni to Girls and
Boys Town’s future citizens.
11:40 Mid-day
Mass at the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception.
12:15
Lunch at the Visitors Center, site of the weekly new
citizenship ceremony.
1:00
Visitors Center Gift Shop— religious objects, Father Flanagan
memorabilia, books about Boys Town, its founder and its programs,
objects from Ireland, stamp center, post cards, shirts and much more.
1:45 Bus
or auto tour of the entire Village.
2:00 Garden
of the Bible and Chambers Chapel
2:30 Dowd
Chapel prayer for the children of Girls and Boys Town at altar of the
Boy Jesus and closing prayer for canonization at Father
Flanagan’s tomb.
A guide will welcome you
and be your pilgrim companion throughout the day. Fee for
Hall of History tour is $1.00.
To schedule a pilgrimage,
contact:
pilgrimages@fatherflanagan.org
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What Others
Say
"I have
seen him in all sorts of situations... He was a many-sided man of God,
who had the broad, generous spirit toward all good men of all faiths,
a man indeed who recognized the catholicity of goodness and
genuineness. The world will long look to Boys Town as a center where a
great man interpreted the mind of Christ..."
Tribute to Father Flanagan on KBON, May
20, 1948, by
Dr. Thomas R. Niven, Pastor, First Presbyterian Church,
Omaha
"So to
you, Father Flanagan and all your co-workers, the seniors of ‘43
extend to you their most heartfelt thanks. If it had not been for your
guiding hand, your fatherly love and your great generosity, most of us
would not have had the opportunity of a real home and a good
education. To you we owe a debt that is unlimited, but we shall strive
in our own small way to pay back a small part of that debt.
Whoever
it was who coined the phrase, "His heart is bigger than the law
allows," when speaking of Father Flanagan, was certainly quite right.
Thanking you again, Father Flanagan for all your great interest in us,
we take our leave of Boys Town, wishing you success in all you
undertake, happiness at all times and may God bless you always.
Charlie Mitchell tribute to Father Flanagan May 14, 1943, Boys Town
Times
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Father Flanagan League: 
