Father Flanagan to be honored as northeast Nebraska’s ‘saint next door’

On Sunday, Nov. 9, Catholics around the world will honor what Pope Francis called “the saints next door” – holy men and women who characterize local churches and communities.

Last November, in the “Letter of the Holy Father Francis for the Remembrance in the Particular Churches of Their Own Saints, Blesseds, Venerables and Servants of God,” Pope Francis called on local dioceses to honor holy figures connected to their communities each year on Nov. 9, beginning in the 2025 Jubilee. In the Archdiocese of Omaha, this includes Servant of God Father Edward Joseph Flanagan, the founder of Boys Town.

In his letter, Pope Francis called these remembrances a chance for individual dioceses to “rediscover or perpetuate the memory of extraordinary disciples of Christ.”

The pontiff emphasized that he was not adding another liturgical celebration to the Church calendar but instead called on local dioceses to promote appropriate initiatives outside the liturgy or recall these figures within it, for example, during homilies.

Those interested in learning more about Father Flanagan’s life are encouraged to watch the documentary, “Heart of a Servant: The Father Flanagan Story,” which is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

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