By Katie Vasquez
As the battle of World War II continued in Europe, a passionist priest with ties to the Diocese of Brooklyn, Father Fabian Flynn, was on the frontlines.
“He volunteered into the army as a chaplain,” said Father Victor Hoagland, CP, at the Passionist Monastery.
Father Victor Hoagland, a passionist priest himself, says Father Flynn ended up in Germany as the infamous Nuremberg trials started.
“Fraternization with the Germans was almost forbidden. But he decided that he was going to have every Sunday a mass at a German church in Nuremberg, and everybody would be invited. It was a wonderful thing,” said Father Hoagland.
When his military service ended, Father Flynn worked with Catholic Relief services.
“refugees, hundreds of thousands were going through those lands. So Catholic relief began its mission of taking care of the immigrants, getting them settled, getting them something to eat, recognizing their humanity,” said Father Hoagland.
As a reward for his efforts, the German bishops gave the Passionist priest this crucifix in the 1970s which hangs in the chapel at the Passionist Monastery in Jamaica, Queens, where Father Flynn was also ordained in 1931.
“That crucifix is extremely important because it recognizes that not only is Jesus on the cross. It’s everybody who’s on the cross.”
When people make their way through the Queens chapel, Father Hoagland has witnessed the faithful be comforted by the cross.
“A woman came up and she put her hand right on that cross. Just putting her hand there, she’s saying, “I understand there’s some wisdom that’s communicated to me,” said Father Hoagland.
As the world continues to deal with issues of immigration and war, Father Hoagland hopes others will be moved by the life of Father Flynn.
“He recognized the poor, he recognized the enemy, he recognized the rivals, he recognized humanity.”
And Father Hoagland wants to make sure the passionist priest is never forgotten.
“I have to tell them that story because I know that they need that kind of wisdom.”