Flynn, D. Michael

Jesuit Father D. Michael Flynn, 71, a priest for 39 years, and a Jesuit for 50 years, died on July 27, 2012, at Murray-Weigel Hall, Bronx, NY. He had recently celebrated his 50^th anniversary as a Jesuit at FordhamUniversity, and in spite of failing health was able to be present and enjoy the celebration.

From Holy Child Jesus Parish, Richmond Hill, Queens, Fr. Flynn graduated from Power Memorial Academy in Manhattan. He first encountered the Jesuits in the classroom at St. Peter’s College, majoring in history and graduating in 1962. He joined the Jesuits in 1962, entering the novitiate at St. Andrew-on-Hudson, Poughkeepsie on August 14. He completed collegiate studies at Loyola Seminary, Shrub Oak. As a regent, he returned to Jersey City, teaching history and religion at the Prep. Following theology at Woodstock College in New York City, he was ordained a priest by Terence Cardinal Cooke at the Fordham University Church on May 26, 1973. His profession of Final Vows as a Jesuit took place on October 18, 1981.

Fr. Flynn engaged in a number of different ministries from the classroom at Xavier, to Director of Vocations for the New York Province, and then to his deepest desires, to pastoral ministry in several parishes, focusing upon Hispanic ministry. He has served as Co-Director of EPNE (Estudios pastorales para la nueva evangelizacion). This Hispanic Lay Leadership Program offers retreats, workshops, courses, and formation programs to the Latino community in the NY-NJ area and beyond. Fr. Flynn’s special gift has been to share the heritage of the Ignatian vision and spirituality in the classroom, parish churches, and retreat centers, with the ever growing Hispanic population. His own experience and expertise in leadership (often enriched with his sense of humor) has been directed to forming and training others to be leaders.

In the HAP (Higher Achievement Programs), EPNE) and in the parishes of Nativity, St. Mary of the Assumption and most recently Our Lady of Loretto, Fr. Flynn has shared his preferential love of the poor and his commitment to inculturate gospel values especially among the Latino communities.

Most recently, because of health concerns that surfaced while assisting at Our Lady of Loretto parish in Hempstead, L.I., he had been assigned to Murray-Weigel Hall in the Bronx where he died.