BISHOP FLANAGAN MADE HONORARY OBLATE

"On Sept. 11 Fr. Wilhelm Steckling formally invested Bishop Thomas J. Flanagan as an Honorary Oblate of Mary Immaculate during a Mass in the Oblate School of Theology’s chapel. Fr. Warren Brown, OMI, presented the recommendation for the honor, saying, “Today, we present Bishop Tom Flanagan, a compassionate, big-hearted, loving priest of God, whom we honor as a son of St. Eugene and a brother in Oblate community life.” Bishop Flanagan was presented with the Oblate cross of the late Fr. Angel Villalba. Born in Spain, Fr. Villalba served as a missionary in Africa and spent more than 20 years in ministry in Corpus Christi, TX. He died in 2008.

"A native of Ireland, the bishop was ordained for the diocese of San Antonio in June 1956. In 1979 he graduated from Oblate School of Theology with a master of divinity degree for clergy. After 42 years of serving in various parishes, he was named auxiliary bishop to assist Archbishop Patrick Flores by Pope John Paul II in 1998. He retired in December 2005. In his presentation, Fr. Brown spoke of the bishop’s devotion to the Blessed Virgin, his membership in the Oblate Madonna Residence since becoming bishop as well as his commitment to apostolic community life as a basis for mission to the needs of God’s people. “ Many Oblates have been anointed and ordained by his priestly hands,” Fr. Brown noted. “He has celebrated the Mass of Christian Burial for many Oblates and has become a friend, brother, confessor and fellow minister of the Gospel.”