Funeral arrangements for the Most Reverend Harry Joseph Flynn, retired archbishop of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, are as follows.

Sunday, September 29: Saint Mary’s Chapel, Saint Paul Seminary, Saint Paul

5:30 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. (Monday) Reception of the Body and Public Visitation

7 p.m. Evening Prayer (please note updated time)

Monday, September 30: Saint Mary’s Chapel, Saint Paul Seminary, Saint Paul

7 a.m. Morning Prayer

7:30 a.m. Transfer of the body to Cathedral of Saint Paul

Monday, September 30: Cathedral of Saint Paul, Saint Paul

8 – 11 a.m. Public Visitation

11 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial

Following Mass: Immediate transfer of the body to Resurrection Cemetery, Mendota Heights

Rite of Committal and Burial at cemetery

Obituary for Archbishop Harry J. Flynn

Ordained a priest for the Diocese of Albany, New York May 28, 1960; named Coadjutor Bishop of the Diocese of Lafayette, Louisiana April 29, 1986; consecrated a bishop on June 24, 1986; named Coadjutor Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis on February 22, 1994; installed as Archbishop September 8, 1995.

Harry J. Flynn was born May 2, 1933 in Schenectady, New York, to William and Margaret Mahoney Flynn. He was the youngest of six children. Having earned a bachelor of arts and a master of arts degree in English from Siena College in Loudonville, New York, he went on to attend Mount St. Mary Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland, and was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Albany. After serving at parishes and teaching at Central Catholic High School in Troy, New York, then-Father Flynn was appointed dean of Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary where he later served as vice rector and seminary rector. In 1979, he returned to the Diocese of Albany and served as the diocesan director of clergy continuing education and as pastor of St. Ambrose parish in Latham, New York. In 1986, Pope John Paul II appointed him coadjutor bishop of the Diocese of Lafayette, Louisiana, becoming the fourth bishop of the diocese in May 1989. In 1994, he was named Coadjutor Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis and was installed as archbishop a year later, upon Archbishop John Roach’s retirement. He served in that ministry from September 8, 1995 until his retirement on his 75th birthday, May 2, 2008.

Archbishop Flynn loved being a priest and spent his retirement years serving the people of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, joyfully confirming thousands of young people, celebrating Mass at parishes across the Archdiocese, leading retreats, and generously giving his time.

Archbishop Flynn found respite at his family’s home on Schroon Lake in the Adirondack Mountains of New York. There he would regularly entertain many guests over the years and particularly enjoyed cooking fine meals for them, which always led to stories and warm conversation.

While he enjoyed visiting with people and was a consummate storyteller and a powerful preacher, Archbishop Flynn always listened to others first – affirming God’s love for them and finding the good they often could not find in themselves. Those who knew him well and those he had just met called him a “merciful pastor” and felt like he was truly present to them whether they were introducing themselves or sharing something very personal. He was well-known for his Christmas cards, which he personally annotated with individual messages to those on his long list of annual recipients.

He was a tireless advocate for racial justice, the poor and the marginalized, and saw Jesus in every person, regardless of his or her circumstances. He worked closely with religious and elected civil leaders to promote the dignity of all women and men and make them feel welcomed and valued. Because of the important role religious women played in his life following the death of his parents at a very young age, Archbishop Flynn had a special place in his heart and ministry for women religious.

Archbishop Flynn accepted suffering as a true disciple of Jesus, embracing his share in the Lord’s cross, knowing that it leads to a share in his resurrection.

Even in the midst of intense pain in the final days of his life, friends who took him to his doctors’ appointments commented on how he profusely thanked each and every doctor, nurse and medical professional at Saint Joseph’s and Woodwinds Hospitals for their kindness and he blessed them on his way out of the building.

Before his death, he told those who were with him that “suffering was part of the journey into Heaven.” Those present said he suffered beautifully because he trusted in God’s love and goodness and that allowed him the grace to do so.

After being anointed, Archbishop Flynn died at 11:26 p.m., Sunday, September 22, in his residence at the rectory of Saint Vincent de Paul parish in Saint Paul, in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament, surrounded by family, friends, brother priests and his beloved and ever-present Golden Retrievers.

Besides being known as a loving priest, bishop, spiritual father and friend, Archbishop Flynn’s legacy will be one of gratitude. He was grateful for all human life, grateful for his call to the priesthood, grateful to those he was blessed to pastor and serve, and most of all, grateful to God for his love and mercy. Those fortunate enough to have come into contact with him or simply joined him for a Mass he celebrated would comment about how he would always spend a lot of time thanking everyone in a genuine way. At the end of one particular Mass, he told those in attendance that he had to stop expressing his gratitude because his administrative assistant was in the choir and he said if he didn’t stop she would never make it to work the next day!

Archbishop Flynn is survived by seven nieces and nephews and his many close friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and five siblings.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, September 30 at the Cathedral of Saint Paul in St. Paul, Minnesota. Public visitation in Saint Mary’s Chapel at the Saint Paul Seminary begins at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, September 29 and concludes with Morning Prayer at 7 a.m. Monday, September 30. Public visitation at the Cathedral of Saint Paul will begin at 8 a.m. Monday, September 30 and conclude at 11 a.m. Following Mass, the burial will take place at Resurrection Cemetery, Mendota Heights.

Memorials are preferred to The Saint Paul Seminary and St. Peter Claver School in Saint Paul.