The Rev. Shane Flanagan, who grew up in Holmesburg and graduated from St. Dominic Elementary School and Father Judge High School, was ordained an Archdiocese of Philadelphia priest on Saturday.
“It’s hard to put in words,” he said. “It’s a really great blessing. I’m just full of gratitude. Today feels like a dream, it really does.”
Flanagan, 27, has been assigned to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Doylestown. He starts on June 19. He’s eager to work with the pastor, the Rev. Matt Guckin, a fellow Judge graduate.
“It’s really a vibrant community,” he said of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
Flanagan is the seventh of eight kids of Mike and Marie Flanagan of Fuller Street. His dad is a retired fireman and his mom is a retired Catholic elementary school teacher. He and his four brothers all went to Judge and his three sisters all attended St. Hubert. He has nine nieces and nephews. He is the second priest in his family, following the late Monsignor Frank Menna, his great-uncle.
Flanagan was an altar boy at St. Dominic (class of 2010) before heading to Judge (class of 2014). He attended Arcadia University for a year before entering St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in the fall of 2015.
At the seminary, he earned a degree in philosophy and a Master of Divinity and Master of Theology. He has been serving as a transitional deacon at Mary, Mother of the Redeemer Parish in North Wales for the last year in final preparation for ordination.
The Flanagan family was out in full force for the ordination.
“It’s great to have a priest in the family,” his dad said. “My mom and dad (the late Rose and George) would have been over the moon. He’s a normal guy, blue collar, and is going to be a good priest.”
Archbishop Nelson Perez celebrated the Mass, and most archdiocesan priests were in attendance, along with retired Archbishop Charles Chaput. The Rev. Edward Kearns, soon to retire as pastor at St. Dominic, was on hand, as was his predecessor, the Rev. John Gabin.
Sister Shaun Thomas Callahan, IHM, St. Dominic principal when Flanagan was a student, also attended the ordination. She recalled Flanagan playing Jesus in eighth grade during Living Stations.
“It’s awesome to watch the growth of someone from a strong Catholic family,” she said.
The other priests ordained were Anthony Albanese, Randall Kraft, Phong Le, John Okpara, Kenneth Omeke and Wesly Taveras Medina.
Meanwhile, Flanagan celebrated a Mass of Thanksgiving Sunday afternoon at St. Dominic, with Kearns concelebrating and the new priest’s family and friends, St. Dominic parishioners, Gabin, Sister Shaun and Bishop John McIntyre all in attendance.
In his homily, the Rev. Dennis Carbonaro, director of spiritual formation at the seminary, described Flanagan as “a good man with a good heart.”
Flanagan will be back at St. Dominic to celebrate the 10:30 a.m. Mass on June 11, with a reception to follow in Marian Hall. ••
