Supporters of sainthood for Monsignor Edward J. Flanagan, the iconic founder of Boys Town, have been talking about a full-length documentary about his extraordinary life since 2014.
On Tuesday, the result of all that conversation — and the hard work of dozens of people — will be shown in more than 750 theaters across the country, including several in Omaha.
“Heart of a Servant: The Father Flanagan Story” was produced by Spirit Juice Studios out of Chicago and is narrated by actor Jonathan Roumie, who plays Jesus in “The Chosen” on television.
It was filmed on location in Omaha, Germany, Ireland, Austria, Japan and various locations in the United States.
The film’s purpose is not to raise funds, but to inspire prayers and increase awareness of Flanagan’s extraordinary deeds, said Steve Wolf, a former Boys Town student who raised his family in Omaha and now lives in Florida. Wolf is on the board of directors of the Father Flanagan League, a group formed in 2009 to promote sainthood for Flanagan.
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“The film was our project from beginning to end,” said Wolf, who is one of its executive producers. “We want as many eyes to see this film and hearts to be touched by it as we can. We think this is helping people realize that he’s someone they can ask to pray for their needs.”
In 2017, the Archdiocese of Omaha named Flanagan a “Servant of God,” which is the first step in the Catholic Church’s canonization process. The Vatican is now considering the cause and is in the process of verifying the two miracles necessary for Flanagan to become a saint.
People who seek Flanagan’s intercessory prayers for seemingly impossible situations may just be praying for those miracles, Wolf said.
He thinks most people will be surprised to learn about the legendary priest beyond what they know about his life at Boys Town, though it alone was impressive enough.
“The Ku Klux Klan threatened to kill him and burn Boys Town down” because he admitted boys of all colors and religions, Wolf said.
Flanagan was born in Ireland in 1886, immigrated to the United States in 1904 and was ordained in 1912.
Before founding Boys Town in 1917, he ministered to the dead and injured in the Omaha tornado outbreak in 1913 and established a home for transient workers.
During World War II, Gen. Douglas MacArthur invited Flanagan to Japan and Korea to advise on child welfare, and later brought him to occupied territory in Austria and Germany to assess the conditions in which children lived.
“He led a heroically virtuous life,” Wolf said.
The Father Flanagan League bankrolled the film, Wolf said, adding that it took about five years to raise enough money. He declined to reveal the movie’s entire budget, but said production costs alone were half a million dollars.
Most of the donations came from Omaha.
“We are particularly grateful to the Dan and Shirley Neary family. Their donation took the league over the amount it needed to get it produced,” Wolf said.
There are showings of the film in the Omaha area Tuesday at Aksarben Cinema, 2110 S. 67th St.; AMC Council Bluffs, 3230 N. 23rd Ave.; Marcus Majestic Cinema of Omaha, 14304 West Maple Road; Marcus Twin Creek Cinema, 3909 Raynor Parkway in Bellevue; and Marcus Village Pointe Cinema, 304 N. 174 St. One is sold out so far, and tickets are selling briskly.
Showtimes can be found at fandango.com.
Wolf said that if Tuesday’s showings are successful, theaters may decide to add more. He also said they hope it will eventually be shown on PBS, plus other television outlets and streaming services around the world.
He said he thinks the movie could have a profound effect on how we treat each other, especially during the divisive times in which we live.
Flanagan’s legacy, Wolf said, “reminds people that we are all children of God.”
Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of October 2024
elizabeth.freeman@owh.com,
402-444-1267
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