Fr. Vincent Flanagan (1927-2022)

Please pray for the repose of Fr. Vincent Flanagan, R.I.P., one of our priests who died recently. Vincent Patrick Flanagan was born on 10th January 1927 in Ireland, the second of four children. He was ordained a priest for the St. Patrick’s Missionary Society (the Kiltegan Fathers) on 5th April 1953 and his first assignment after his ordination was to Nigeria. However, he returned to Ireland on health grounds in 1955. Upon his recovery a year later, he was assigned to the United States and he travelled the country extensively, raising funds to support the missionary endeavours of his order. While in the United States, he also spent some time in Brazil. After his missionary sojourn in the United States, he came to our Diocese of Portsmouth and was appointed an assistant priest at St. Joseph’s Maidenhead (1966 – 1972). He decided to incardinate into the Diocese on 4th November 1970. He was appointed to Our Lady of Peace, Earley in Reading as priest in charge (1972 – 1976) and later as parish priest (1976 – 1983). He then became parish priest of St. Joseph’s, Maidenhead (1983 – 1987) and parish priest of Christ the King, Reading (1987 – 1994). In 1994, he was appointed to St. Thomas More, Twyford (1994 – 2015). He retired from there to Kiln Green convent. Fr. Vincent died on the morning of Wednesday 13th April 2022 at the Bridgecourt Care Home in Twyford. Let us thank God for his witness and pray for his peaceful repose. Please pray also for his family, close friends and all who will miss him.