Reflecting on his life for The Capuchin Journey in 2016, Fr. Joseph Flynn cherished his years in formation as a young friar. In his initial formation, as he put it, “fraternity happened.” Being together for prayer, study, meals, and recreation—including football games and musicals—made fraternity happen. It came very naturally: he said “it came through osmosis” because the brothers spent all their time together.
Father Joe, who died on Jan. 12, would spend his lifetime ministering to youths in parishes and colleges, and also to our friars in formation. He cited his own formation into brotherhood as the source of his ministry. He believed that a Capuchin’s ministry to others begins with caring for one another in the fraternity, as in a family.
His experience of fraternal care gave him the grace to see others with great love. “He had the remarkable ability to see you for who you were … and he was thrilled by what he saw,” said Fr. Jack Rathschmidt, who preached the homily at Father Joe’s funeral on Jan. 17. Father Jack quoted the Persian poet Hafiz to illustrate the rich life Father Joe lived: “Bring your cup near me. For I am a sweet old vagabond with an infinite leaking barrel of Light and Laughter and Truth that the Beloved has tied to my back.”
An only child, John Joseph Flynn Jr. was born in Brooklyn and raised in Woodside, N.Y. Growing up at Saint Teresa Parish in Woodside, young Joe felt the presence of Fr. Thaddeus MacVicar, who helped at the parish and organized a Secular Franciscan fraternity in nearby Sunnyside. Fr. Aidan Neenan, the vocation director, visited Joe’s school in the fall of 1953 and invited him to attend the seminary high school, Glenclyffe, in Garrison, N.Y. On a visit to Glenclyffe, Joe saw some of his friends, including future friar Fr. Gary McAuley. Seeing their familiar faces convinced him to enroll. He graduated from Glenclyffe and entered novitiate in August 1958. He was ordained to the priesthood on Nov. 12, 1966, at Sacred Heart Church in Yonkers, N.Y.
Father Joe subsequently earned master’s degrees in divinity, theology, and pastoral counseling, and eventually a doctorate of ministry. His academic training complemented his practical training in pastoral care gained through five years counseling students at St. Michael High School and summers directing a tutorial program that he started for disadvantaged youths. He modeled the tutorial program after “Summer in the City” at Our Lady Queen of Angels in East Harlem, where as a clerical candidate in the 1960s he taught English, mathematics, physical education, and arts. He had also taught religion and directed intramural football at Sacred Heart High School in Yonkers.
These experiences in the religious formation of youth served Father Joe well when he was called to serve in the formation of Capuchin friars. Recommended for his pastoral experience, in 1976 Father Joe joined the formation staff for the clerical candidates in residence at Garrison. As a formator of clerics, he was director of field work, director of the deacon internship program, and finally director of formation. At the same time, he joined the faculty at Maryknoll School of Theology in Ossining, N.Y., directing the field education program. For the next 18 years, until the closing of the school, he would teach courses on pastoral counseling, cross-cultural ministry, and justice and peace, among others.
After Maryknoll closed, he brought his pastoral skills to Manhattanville College, 1994-99, as chaplain in residence and director of the campus ministry office. He became chaplain at The College of New Rochelle in 2002 while residing at Saint Conrad Friary, White Plains, N.Y. He also served as chaplain to Ladycliff College in Highland Falls, N.Y. These assignments were the joy of his priestly ministry.
In his later years, Father Joe ministered part-time as chaplain at White Plains Hospital until his health declined. He moved to St. Clare Friary in Yonkers and then to the nursing center Cabrini of Westchester in Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., where he died peacefully.
Father Jack, who lived and worked with Father Joe for many years in both formation ministry and college chaplaincy, bid the funeral assembly to imitate the example of Jesus Christ, St. Francis of Assisi, and Father Joe, leaking light, love, and truth into the Church and into the world. He asked Father Joe to intercede for us that we, too, may live “rich, gentle lives.”