Submitted by Diocese of Lafayette Office
Catholics in Acadiana are mourning the loss of Archbishop Emeritus Harry J. Flynn, former Bishop of the Diocese of Lafayette, who passed away on Sunday, September 22. The late Archbishop Flynn, who was most recently Archbishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese of St. Paul-Minneapolis in Minnesota, served as Bishop of the Diocese of Lafayette from 1989-1994. Bishop Flynn came to Lafayette from the Albany, New York diocese of which he was a native.
Bishop Harry Flynn took over responsibilities as fourth Bishop of Lafayette in May, 1989, after the retirement of Bishop Gerard Frey.
In February of 1994, Bishop Flynn was appointed Coadjutor Archbishop of St.Paul-Minneapolis in Minnesota and assumed these duties in April, 1994. Upon the retirement of Archbishop John Roach, he became the seventh Archbishop of St. Paul-Minneapolis on September 8, 1995. He retired as Archbishop in May of 2008.
Bishop Douglas Deshotel of the Diocese of Lafayette says “I was saddened to learn this morning of the death of Archbishop Harry Flynn after a long illness. He was a tireless and longtime servant of the Church as Priest, Rector of Mount St. Mary Seminary, Bishop and Archbishop. Many in our Diocese of Lafayette were touched by his kindness and charity for those in need. May he now be received into the arms of his Heavenly Father who creates us for Himself. Eternal rest grant unto him.”
Services have been set for former Archbishop Harry Flynn, who died Sunday. All services will be in Minnesota, where he was living at the time of his death.
A public visitation and vigil will be Sunday evening at Saint Mary’s Chapel at Saint Paul Seminary. A public visitation is also set for next Monday, Sept. 30, at the Cathedral of Saint Paul starting at 8 a.m. followed by a funeral Mass at 11 a.m. He will be buried at Resurrection Cemetery in Mendota Heights.
Archbishop Harry Flynn was 86.