Joseph Francis Flannelly

Joseph Francis Flannelly (October 22, 1894—May 23, 1973) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as an auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of New York from 1948 to 1969.

Biography

Early life Joseph Flannelly was born on October 22, 1894, in New York City to Michael J. and Mary A. (née Considine) Flannelly. He attended Cathedral College in Queens, New York, and made his theological studies at St. Joseph's Seminary in Yonkers, New York.

Priesthood

Flannelly was ordained to the priesthood for the Archdiocese of New York in New York on September 1, 1918, by Bishop Thomas Walsh. After his ordination, the archdiocese assigned Flannelly as curate at Our Lady of the Rosary Parish in Yonkers. He supervised the parochial school at Our Lady, taught singing, and organized and coached the school baseball and basketball teams. He also served as chaplain of the local fire department. He received the episcopal ring of Cardinal Patrick Hayes and the pectoral cross of Archbishop John Hughes. Flannelly selected as his episcopal motto: "Pro Hominibus ad Deum," which, freely translated, means, "Ordained for men in the things that appertain to God" . Flannelly was an ardent proponent of the restoration of religion to the public school system, and was once quoted as having said that "...in the face of Communist activities bent on taking God out of government and business, the most important first thing we have to do is put religion back in education." Flannelly received honorary Doctor of Laws degrees from both Manhattan College and Fordham University, both in the Bronx.

Retirement and death After reaching the mandatory retirement age of 75, Flannelly resigned as auxiliary bishop of New York on November 8, 1969. He died on May 23, 1973, at St. Clare's Hospital in Manhattan at age 78.