Bernard Joseph Flanagan

Styles of
**Vincent Joseph Hines**
Styles of; Vincent Joseph Hines
Reference style	His Excellency; The Most Reverend;
Spoken style	Your Excellency
Religious style	Bishop

His Excellency, The Most Reverend

Bernard Joseph Flanagan
His Excellency, The Most Reverend; Bernard Joseph Flanagan
Bishop of Worcester
Church	Roman Catholic
See	Diocese of Worcester
Appointed	August 8, 1959
Installed	September 24, 1959
Term ended	March 31, 1983
Predecessor	John Joseph Wright
Successor	Timothy Joseph Harrington
Orders
Ordination	December 8, 1931; by Francesco Marchetti Selvaggiani
Consecration	November 30, 1953; by Edward Francis Ryan, Vincent Stanislaus Waters, and John Patrick Cody
Personal details
Born	March 31, 1908; Proctor, Vermont, US
Died	January 28, 1998 (aged 89); Worcester, Massachusetts, US
Buried	St. John Cemetery
Previous post(s)	Bishop of Norwich
Education	College of the Holy Cross; Pontifical North American College; Catholic University of America
Motto	Respice ad Mariam; (Look to Mary)

Bernard Joseph Flanagan (March 31, 1908 – January 28, 1998) was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Norwich in Connecticut (1953–1959) and as bishop of the Diocese of Worcester in Massachusetts (1959–1983).

Biography[edit]

Early life[edit]

Bernard Flanagan was born on March 31, 1908, in Proctor, Vermont, to John B. and Alice (née McGarry) Flanagan.^[1] He studied at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, and at the Pontifical North American College in Rome.^[1]

Flanagan was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Burlington by Cardinal Francesco Selvaggiani on December 8, 1931.^[2] He earned a doctorate in canon law from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., in 1943.^[3] Flanagan then served as secretary to Bishop Edward Ryan and as chancellor of the diocese.^[1]

Bishop of Norwich[edit]

On September 1, 1953, Flanagan was appointed the first bishop of the Diocese of Norwich by Pope Pius XII. Flanagan received his episcopal consecration on December 3, 1953, in Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Burlington, Vermont, from Bishop Edward Ryan, with Bishops Vincent Waters and John Cody serving as co-consecrators.^[3] He was formally installed five days later, on December 8, in St. Patrick's Cathedral in Norwich. During his tenure, Flanagan oversaw the establishment of several secondary schools and parishes within his diocese.^[4]

Bishop of Worcester[edit]

Flanagan was named the second bishop of the Diocese of Worcester on August 8, 1959, by Pope John XXIII. Flanagan was installed by Cardinal Richard Cushing on September 24, 1959. Flanagan attended the Second Vatican Council in Rome from 1962 to 1965, and was an ardent supporter of ecumenism. He once declared,

"There are many paths that we can and must travel, as we work and pray for the fulfillment of Christ's prayer that 'all be one'. One of these paths is the association of yet separated Christian churches in local and regional councils."

In 1973, the diocese joined the Worcester County Ecumenical Council, a predominantly Protestant organization.^[5] Flanagan also engaged in active dialogue with Archbishop Iakovos of the Greek Orthodox Church in America.^[6]

Retirement[edit]

Pope John Paul II accepted Flanagan's resignation as bishop of the Diocese of Worcester on March 31, 1983. Bernard Flanagan died on January 28, 1998, in Worcester at age 89.^[2]

References[edit]

^ ^a ^b ^c Curtis, Georgina Pell (1961). The American Catholic Who's Who. Vol. XIV. Grosse Pointe, Michigan: Walter Romig.
^ ^a ^b "Bishop Bernard Joseph Flanagan". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.
^ ^a ^b "Bishop Flanagan Installed in New Norwick Diocese", The Catholic Standard and Times, Vol. 59, Number 11, 11 December 1953
^ Diocese of Norwich. A Brief History of the Diocese of Norwich Archived May 1, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
^ Telegram & Gazette. [1] May 22, 2007
^ St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Cathedral. Catholics attend Orthodox service Archived February 5, 2008, at the Wayback Machine January 23, 2006

Catholic Church titles
Preceded by none	Bishop of Norwich 1953–1959	Succeeded by Vincent Joseph Hines
Preceded by John Joseph Wright	Bishop of Worcester 1959–1983	Succeeded by Timothy Joseph Harrington

[curtis-1] Curtis, Georgina Pell (1961). The American Catholic Who's Who. Vol. XIV. Grosse Pointe, Michigan: Walter Romig.

[hierarchy-2] "Bishop Bernard Joseph Flanagan". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.

[tcst-3] "Bishop Flanagan Installed in New Norwick Diocese", The Catholic Standard and Times, Vol. 59, Number 11, 11 December 1953

[4] Diocese of Norwich. A Brief History of the Diocese of Norwich Archived May 1, 2008, at the Wayback Machine

[5] Telegram & Gazette. [1] May 22, 2007

[6] St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Cathedral. Catholics attend Orthodox service Archived February 5, 2008, at the Wayback Machine January 23, 2006

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v t e Roman Catholic Diocese of Worcester
Ordinaries	Bishops John Joseph Wright Bernard Joseph Flanagan Timothy Joseph Harrington Daniel Patrick Reilly Robert Joseph McManus Auxiliary bishops Timothy Joseph Harrington George Edward Rueger
Churches	Cathedral Cathedral of Saint Paul Basilica St. Joseph Basilica
Education	High schools Holy Name Central Catholic High School Notre Dame Academy Notre Dame Preparatory School St. Bernard's High School St. John's High School St. Mary's Central Catholic High School Saint Peter-Marian High School High schools, closed Magnificat Academy High schools, independent Immaculate Heart of Mary Trivium School
Priests	Philip D. McNamara
Catholicism portal

v t e Roman Catholic Diocese of Norwich
Ordinaries	Bishops Bernard Joseph Flanagan Vincent Joseph Hines Daniel Patrick Reilly Daniel Anthony Hart Michael Richard Cote
Churches	Cathedral Cathedral of Saint Patrick Parishes Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish, Quaker Hill St. Joseph Parish, Rockville St. Mary of Czestochowa Parish, Middletown St. John Parish, Middletown St. Sebastian Parish, Middletown
Education	College and seminary Holy Apostles College and Seminary Elementary schools Sacred Heart School, Groton Sacred Heart School, Taftville Saint James School, Danielson Saint John School, Old Saybrook Saint John Paul II School, Middletown Saint Joseph School, Baltic Saint Joseph School, New London Saint Joseph School, North Grosvernordale Saint Mary-Saint Joseph School, Willimantic Saint Michael School, Pawtucket Saint Patrick Cathedral School, Norwich High schools Academy of the Holy Family, Baltic Marianapolis Preparatory School, Thompson Mercy High School, Middletown Saint Bernard High School, Uncasville Xavier High School, Middletown
Catholicism portal

v t e Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington
Bishops	Louis de Goesbriand John Stephen Michaud Joseph John Rice Matthew Francis Brady Edward Francis Ryan Robert Francis Joyce John Aloysius Marshall Kenneth Anthony Angell Salvatore Ronald Matano Christopher J. Coyne
Churches	Cathedral Cathedral of Saint Joseph Parishes St. Monica's Church, Barre Conversion of St. Paul Church, Barton St. Augustine Church, Montpelier St. Mary Star of the Sea Church, Newport St. Peter's Church, Rutland St. Thomas Church, Underhill Saint Francis Xavier Church, Winooski Former parishes St. George's Church, Bakersfield Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Burlington
Education	Higher education Saint Michael's College Former colleges College of St. Joseph Trinity College High schools Mount Saint Joseph Academy, Rutland Rice Memorial High School, South Burlington Saint Michael Catholic School Brattleboro
Priests	Bernard Joseph Flanagan Louis Edward Gelineau
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