Origins of the League

The Father Flanagan League Society of Devotion are a movement of people throughout the world who are motivated by the Holy Spirit to seek the intercession of Father Flanagan with our prayers. There have been various individuals and groups of devotees since the time of Father Flanagan’s passing in 1948. The League in its modern form was established in July 1999 by the inspiration of Kenneth Suddeth, President of the Boys Town National Alumni Association at that time.

Actors who are actually part of a Holy Order such as Jesuits or Benedictines have opened many causes. Father Flanagan was a diocesan priest and not a member of a Holy Order. (In many ways, the youth who received his direct care or came to Boys Town after his passing are Father Flanagan’s order.) The youth who received his direct care or came to Boys Town after his passing are Father Flanagan’s legacy.

While Boys Town alumni have been intimately involved in this groundswell of devotion, the individual volunteers who facilitate the League’s official business are laity with no direct connection to Boys Town. They along with thousands of devotees worldwide are simply moved by the Holy Spirit to join us in prayer and are part of the League through an ever-growing groundswell of devotion.

Interaction with the Roman Catholic Church: The League functions with the full knowledge and within the view of the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Omaha. The Church cannot direct the laity to pursue devotion toward Father Flanagan. The Church does not direct the laity to pursue devotion toward Father Flanagan, but it does respond and recognize the groundswell of devotion among the laity and provide proper guidance. This type of recognition regarding a legitimate groundswell of devotion is essential to the opening of a cause, and must be granted by a bishop.

Incorporation and Governance of the League: The League formally incorporated in the state of Nebraska as a religious organization in August 2008. We received federal recognition from the Internal Revenue Service as a 501 c 3, charitable non-profit religious organization on March 20, 2009.

The League has two distinct bodies that govern its affairs. A board of directors manage the administrative, financial and legal requirements of the League. Our Devotional Council is completely focused on the spiritual, devotional aspects for outreach, and collecting evidence of the groundswell of devotion along with examples of Father Flanagan’s heroic virtue, sanctity, and alleged miracles in response to intercessional prayers.

Donations: The Father Flanagan League Society of Devotion (FFLSD) is a charitable non-profit religious organization under the federal Internal Revenue Service code 501 c 3. Donations to the League may be tax deductible. Consult your financial advisor for more information on your tax benefits for this donation.

The Father Flanagan League Society of Devotion is an all-volunteer organization with no paid staff. Your donation will go to the direct costs for sharing devotional information, the collection of evidence, testimony, and other costs associated with the proper administration and logistics of the organization that includes the pursuit of this cause with the Archdiocese of Omaha and the Congregation for the Causes of Saints at the Vatican in Rome, Italy.