then-Father Flanagan This is Me

 Web References

1. 1. Bishop Flanagan's retirement

   www.satodayscatholic.com/Archi - [Cached]

   Published on: 1/6/2006   Last Visited: 11/25/2007

   After his arrival in San Antonio in September 1956, then-Father Flanagan served as associate pastor in various area parishes until his appointment in 1969 as administrator, and later pastor, of St. Agnes Church in Edna.
   
   In 1972 he became pastor of St. Vincent de Paul Parish in San Antonio, serving there until his October 1985 appointment as pastor of St. Brigid Parish, also in San Antonio. He remained at St. Brigid until his Feb. 16, 1998, ordination as an auxiliary bishop of San Antonio. He was ordained as an auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese by Archbishop Patrick F. Flores on Feb. 16, 1998 at the San Antonio Municipal Auditorium.
   ...
   In addition to his parish posts, Bishop Flanagan has been a member of the Knights of Columbus since 1956, and served as chaplain of local and state units of the Knights. He was a spiritual adviser to the archdiocesan St. Vincent de Paul Society and archdiocesan liaison to charismatic prayer groups.
   
   Within the archdiocese, he was a member of the College of Consultors, member and chairman of the archdiocesan Personnel Board, chairman of the Board of Assumption Seminary, director of Archdiocesan Cemeteries and director of the Priests Eucharistic Movement. When Pope John Paul II visited San Antonio in 1987, then-Msgr. Flanagan was responsible for assigning credentials to the media.
   
   He also served as president of the San Antonio Community of Churches in 1991 and was appointed in 1997 by Archbishop Patrick F. Flores, who then headed the San Antonio archdiocese, to the steering committee of the Billy Graham Crusade.
   
   Despite his nearly 50 years in the United States, Bishop Flanagan never forgot his Irish roots. Meeting in 1999 with participants in the Ulster Project, which brings Protestant and Catholic teens from Northern Ireland to the U.S. to break down barriers of religious intolerance, the bishop said, "For so long I have wanted to become involved in the Ulster Project because of its purpose in helping both Catholic and Protestant people to live peacefully and happily together in North Ireland." During a party given for the Irish teens, Bishop Flanagan remarked that it was easier to pick out who was Irish and who was American than who was Catholic and who was Protestant.
   
   In remarks at the Dec. 15 press conference, the bishop said he thanked God for his almost 50 years as a priest and the opportunity and blessing shown to him. "I have never looked back. I've never had any regrets. I've been happy to serve," he said. He also expressed his gratitude to Archbishop Gomez, Archbishop Emeritus Flores, Bishop Zurek, retired Auxiliary Bishop Bernard Popp and his brother priests.
   
   Bishop Flanagan shared his desire to continue as a bishop to whatever degree he can, citing recent health concerns which have slowed his work pace. "I thank God for the blessing and privilege to have served as an auxiliary bishop for the past eight years," he said.