Harry Joseph Flynn facts for kids

Quick facts for kids His Excellency, The Most Reverend Harry Joseph Flynn
Archbishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Archbishop Flynn in 2009
Archdiocese	Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Appointed	February 22, 1994 (Coadjutor)
Enthroned	September 8, 1995
Reign ended	May 2, 2008
Predecessor	John Roach
Successor	John Nienstedt
Orders
Ordination	May 28, 1960
Consecration	June 24, 1986 by Howard James Hubbard, Philip Matthew Hannan, Gerard Louis Frey
Personal details
Born	(1933-05-02)May 2, 1933 Schenectady, New York, U.S.
Died	September 22, 2019(2019-09-22) (aged 86) Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S.
Previous post	Bishop of Lafayette in Louisiana 1989 to 1994
Alma mater	Siena College
Motto	Come Lord Jesus

Styles of Harry Joseph Flynn
Reference style	His Excellency The Most Reverend
Spoken style	Your Excellency
Religious style	Archbishop

Harry Joseph Flynn (born May 2, 1933 – died September 22, 2019) was an American Catholic leader. He served as the Archbishop of Saint Paul and Minneapolis from 1995 to 2008. Before that, he was the Bishop of Lafayette from 1989 to 1994.

Biography

Early Life and Education

Harry Flynn was born in Schenectady, New York, on May 3, 1933. His parents were William and Margaret Mahoney Flynn. He became an orphan at age 12 and was mostly raised by two aunts.

Flynn went to Siena College in Loudenville, New York. There, he earned both a bachelor's and a master's degree in English. He then studied at Mount Saint Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

Becoming a Priest

Harry Flynn was ordained as a priest on May 18, 1960. Bishop William Scully led the ceremony for the Diocese of Albany.

After becoming a priest, Flynn taught English at Catholic Central High School in Troy, New York. He also worked in several church parishes. In 1965, Flynn moved to Maryland to become a teacher and dean at Mount Saint Mary's Seminary. He was promoted to vice-rector in 1968 and then to rector in 1970. In 1979, he returned to Albany. There, he became the director of ongoing education for priests and the pastor of St. Ambrose Parish in Latham, New York.

In 1986, Flynn learned he would be appointed a bishop. He later said, "If I had 100 lives, I’d live every one of them as a priest - and none as a bishop!"

Serving as Bishop

Pope John Paul II chose Flynn to be the coadjutor bishop for the Diocese of Lafayette in Louisiana on April 19, 1986. A coadjutor bishop is like an assistant bishop who is expected to take over later. Bishop Howard Hubbard consecrated Flynn on June 24, 1986. Flynn became the main bishop when Bishop Gerard Frey retired on May 12, 1989.

Becoming Archbishop

On February 22, 1994, Pope John Paul II appointed Flynn as the coadjutor archbishop of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis. He became the archbishop on September 8, 1995. This happened when Archbishop John Robert Roach retired.

As archbishop, Flynn sometimes spoke out on important issues. In May 2005, he shared his thoughts on tax policies in Minnesota. He was also against the war in Iraq.

After serving as archbishop for 12 years, Flynn asked the pope for an assistant archbishop. On April 24, 2007, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Bishop John Nienstedt as Flynn's coadjutor. In January 2008, Flynn ended the practice of lay preaching at Mass. This decision followed a Vatican instruction from 2004.

Retirement and Later Life

On May 5, 2008, Pope Benedict XVI accepted Flynn's resignation. John Nienstedt then became the new archbishop. Even after retiring, Flynn continued to help the archdiocese. He performed confirmations, led spiritual retreats, and participated in other church services.

In November 2010, the Little Sisters of the Poor honored Flynn. They gave him their St. Jeanne Jugan Award. This was for his 50th anniversary of becoming a priest. He left the board of the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul on October 14, 2013. Harry Flynn passed away on September 22, 2019. He was 86 years old and died from bone cancer in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Important Roles

Harry Flynn held many important positions during his career:

• Member of the board at The Catholic University of America.
• Chair of the board at Saint Paul Seminary School of Divinity.
• Chair of the board at the University of St. Thomas.
• President of the board of Saint John Vianney Seminary.
• Member of the board of the College of Saint Catherine.
• Member of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Committee for Black Catholics.
• Member of the USCCB Committee on the Charismatic Renewal Movement.

Legacy

In 2009, the University of St. Thomas honored Archbishop Flynn. They renamed Selby Hall to Flynn Hall to recognize his contributions.

See also