Fr Flanagan: Irish priest who founded Boys Town on sainthood path

An Irish-born priest whose groundbreaking approach to child poverty inspired an Oscar-winning film, has now taken a significant step towards becoming a saint. Fr Edward Flanagan set up a sanctuary in the United States to care for thousands of orphaned and impoverished boys during World War One. He bought a farm in Nebraska which he developed into an entire village dedicated to caring for abandoned and underprivileged youths, known as Boys Town. Now, Pope Leo XIV has declared the late Irish-American priest to be "venerable" - a stage on the pathway to being recognised as a saint by the Catholic Church. More than a century after Fr Flanagan set up his refuge for "wayward boys" the sprawling site still exists today, helping millions of young people and their families. The organisation hailed its founder as a "true visionary" who believed that "every child deserves to be valued and loved, and a chance to live a healthy, positive life". The Irishman's life story inspired the 1938 film Boys Town, starring Spencer Tracey and a young Mickey Rooney. It won two Academy Awards, including the Best Actor Oscar for Tracy's portrayal of Fr Flanagan. Fr Flanagan was born into a large Catholic fami

Mar 24, 2026 → Apr 13, 2026