Glennon Patrick Flavin

Glennon Flavin was born on March 2, 1916, in St. Louis, Missouri, the youngest of six children.[1] His father was a police lieutenant.[2] His brother Cornelius also joined the priesthood.[3] After graduating from St. Louis Preparatory Seminary, Glennon Flavin studied at Kenrick Seminary in Shrewsbury, Missouri.[2]

Flavin was ordained a priest by Archbishop John J. Glennon on December 20, 1941.[4] He then served as a curate at St. Michael Church and taught algebra at the Cathedral Latin School in St. Louis.[2] In 1948, he was named assistant director of the archdiocesan Mission Office, becoming its director in 1956.[1] He became a curate at the Cathedral of St. Louis and private secretary to Archbishop Joseph Ritter in 1949.[2]

On April 17, 1957, Flavin was appointed auxiliary bishop of St. Louis and titular bishop of Ioannina by Pope Pius XII.[4] He received his episcopal consecration on May 30, 1957, from Archbishop Ritter, with Bishops Charles Helmsing and Leo Byrne serving as co-consecrators.[4] Flavin selected as his episcopal motto: "Ut Christus Regnet" (Latin: "That Christ may reign").[1]

In addition to his episcopal duties, he became pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in University City, Missouri, in 1960.[2]

Flavin was named the seventh bishop of the Diocese of Lincoln by Pope Paul VI on May 29, 1967.[4] He greatly increased the number of priestly vocations during his tenure.[5]

Flavin founded the School Sisters of Christ the King in 1976.[1] In 1981, he prohibited women from serving as lectors during Mass; in response, Archbishop Rembert Weakland called his actions "a step backward and offensive."[6][7]

After twenty-four years as bishop, Flavin retired on March 24, 1992.[4] Glennon Flavin died from cancer at his residence in Denton on August 27, 1995, at age 79.[2] He is buried in the chapel of the Cathedral of the Risen Christ.[2]