Father Flanagan was the St John Bosco of the 20th century. He did more to advance the care of orphans and troubled youth than almost anyone else.
From Aleteia
By Philip Kosloski
Fr Edward Flanagan was a holy priest who radically changed the understanding of education for disadvantaged youth and how this challenge is viewed in the United States and beyond.This is the first major step in the cause for canonization, as it confirms that he lived a holy life and is worthy of imitation.
The next step for his cause will be the recognition of two miracles through his intercession, which would make way for his beatification and then canonization.
Who was Fr. Flanagan?
Fr. Flanagan was born in 1886 in Ireland and came to the United States in 1904 with his sister.
He then attended Mt. St Mary’s University in Emmitsburg, MD, where he graduated in 1906 with a BA degree and then in 1908 with an MA degree. He then entered St. Joseph’s Seminary in New York and was ordained a priest in 1912, after having also studied in Rome.
Only a few years into his priesthood, Fr. Flanagan was given permission by his bishop to open a home for homeless boys in Omaha, Nebraska. Larry Peterson describes what happens next in an article for Aleteia:
On December 12, 1917 (The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe), Father Flanagan moved five boys into his first boys’ home. It was called “The City of Little Men.” By June of 1918, there were 32 boys and by Christmas there were more than 100. By the spring of 1919 the capacity of 150 was reached and bigger facilities were in order.
Fr. Flanagan was able to acquire a farm, which he then called, “The Incorporated Village of Boys Town.”
Fr. Flanagan is most well-known for saying, “There is no such thing as a bad boy.” His work inspired even Hollywood, which filmed a movie inspired by his work in 1938.
One of the most enduring parts of Fr. Flanagan’s legacy was his “Boys Town Method” of education, which includes the following:
- Teaching social skills that contribute to a positive learning environment
- Empowering children to make good decisions
- Correcting inappropriate behaviors by teaching and practicing appropriate alternative behaviors
- Reducing the frequency and severity of referrals through a data-driven referral process framework
- Praising students more and punishing them less
Fr. Flanagan believed every boy (and girl) are not inherently bad and can be encouraged to do good. His model has been used around the world and has changed the lives of countless children.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Comments are subject to deletion if they are not germane. I have no problem with a bit of colourful language, but blasphemy or depraved profanity will not be allowed. Attacks on the Catholic Faith will not be tolerated. Comments will be deleted that are republican (Yanks! Note the lower case 'r'!), attacks on the legitimacy of Pope Leo XIV as the Vicar of Christ, the legitimacy of the House of Windsor or of the claims of the Elder Line of the House of France, or attacks on the legitimacy of any of the currently ruling Houses of Europe.