The Times

Saturday, July 10, 1976, page 10 (of 27)

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God made the decision for him on priesthood

By ELIZABETH OWEN Staff Writer His wordly possessions are few but precious: a cross a child gave him the day he was expelled from Chile; a paperback edition of the New Testament in Spanish; a ring he had de- signed and made in Boliv- ia; a lignum vitae chalice which has faimily gave him; a paten or pix - used to carry the Host in during sick calis - a gift from his closest friend in Miami; and memories of the people he loves. "With these, I can be ready to travel in three minutes," said Father "Skip" Flynn, a 30-year- old South Dade native and recently ordained Maryk- noll priest. Father Skip, who grew up with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank J. Flynn, at 7740 SW 52nd Ave., graduated from Christo- pher Columbus High and the University of Miami. He worked as a high school correspondent for The Times-Guide and as a college reporter for the UM's religious publica- tion, "The Voice." Saturday, May 22, Fa- ther Skip was formally ordained to the Roman Catholic missionary priesthood in Maryknoll, N.Y. He celebrated his first Mass Sunday, June 6, at the Church of the Epi- phany in South Miami. How and why a bud- ding young journalist be- came a priest is nothing short of a "joyous mys- tery." ''The biggest mistreatment was that we were expelled and we can never go back to Chile. It's the deepest pain and sorrow of my life. But it helped me to know even more that I wanted to become a priest.'' - Father ''Skip'' Flynn "I didn't make the deci- sion, God did," he re- marked. He said that if he had to pin his decision on any- thing concrete, it would be two experiences: the tragic day when a frater- nity brother was killed in Vietnam; and a dare put to him by David Russell, a priest in St. Louis, to go into the seminary. "Those two incidents did a lot to me," said the young priest. "I just de- cided I had to be a peace- maker." Since he entered the Maryknoll Seminary in 1968, Father Skip has moved around frequently. He studied a year in Glen Ellyn, Ill., and then went to Bingham, Mass., where he served as a hos- pital chaplain at Boston City Hospital nearby. He did graduate study at the Maryknoll Semi- nary in New York State, and then spent four months studying Spanish intensively at the Maryk- noll Fathers Language School in Bolivia. When he became well- versed in the language, Father Skip was sent to Santiago, Chile, to do gen- eral pastoral work among working class people. It was here that the young father went through one of the most difficult tests of his life. He and his fellow priests were studying the Chilean road to socialism of the Alliende govern- ment, and they sent newsletters to the U.S. regularly, telling what was happening in the country. "We reflected on Amer- ican/Chilean relations and we were prophetically critical of American for- eign policy in Chile," Fa- ther Skip recalled. Then the Allienede gov- ernment fell, and five days later Father Skip and a companion were taken prisoners. They were put in a 25 X 45 foot cell with 153 other prisioners and fed two hard rolls and a cup of beans a day - if they were lucky. After 11 long days, the priests were released and sent back to the U.S. Fa- ther Skip says this was his greatest heart-break. "The biggest mistreat- ment was that we were expelled and we can never go back to Chile," he said. "It's the deepest pain and sorrow of my life. "But it helped me to know even more that I wanted to become a priest." Once back in the U.S., Fater Skip became a teacher at St. Joseph's High School in West New York, N.J. Until recently, he has been assistant spir- itual director of the school. Father Skip said he would like to spend the next few years working with young people. He said his philosophy is that of the "Theology of Sign:" he serves his chil- dren not be wearing a collar, but by being a Christian presence in their lives. He has been assigned to the Maryknoll mission re- gion of Venezuela, where he will again work with young people. He will leave in September. He has been assignd to the Maryknoll mission re- gion of Venezuela, where he will again work with young people. He will leave in September. "Being a priest is proba- ' bly the most pressure- cooker job in the world," he said. "But I'm captured by my life as the image of a candle . . . I'd rather burn out than rust out."

SCIENCE OF MIND

7800 Miller Road Sunday 11:00 A.M. 274-0571 or 274-0610

SOUTH DADE HEBREW ACADEMY

3 Years through 8th Grade Traditional Judaica Studies All Certified Teachers Comprehensive English Program Individualized Instruction "The Academy admits students of any race, color and national or ethnic origin." Limited Enrollment 11801 SW 74th Ave. Call: 253-2300

Gables churchman TV guest

Robert D. Korner, co- chairman of the Commis- sion on Evangelism of the First United Methodist Church of Coral Gables, will appear on national television as a guest on the "700 Club" Wednes- day, July 14, at 9:30 a.m., on channel six. Korner will discuss Christian aspects of di- vorce and the effect of di- vorce on family life.

Covered dish

Olympia Heights United Methodist Church, 3801 SW 97th Ave., will be having a covered dish din- ner Sunday, July 11, at the church at 6:30 p.m. Pastor Geiger will lead the devotions. All families of the church are bringing a dish.

Church school

There will be a Vaca- tion Church School at Wesley United Methodist Church, 133 Ponce de Leon Blvd., starting Mon- day, July 12, and continu- ing through July 25, from 9 a.m. to 2 3 p.m. daily. The school will be in both Spanish and En- glish. There will be activ- ities and afternoon field trips. Children ages five to 12 are welcome.

Student center

The Chabad-House Jew- ish Student Center has been opened at the Uni- versity of Miami, Coral Gables, to serve the school's many Jewish stu- dents. The Center will operate a "Twenty-four Hour Jewish Student Hotline," to provide assistance to students.

Church Directory | Attend The Church Of Your Choice

SCIENCE OF THE MIND CENTER INTERNATIONAL 50 S.W. 17 RD. PRACTICAL APPLICATION FOR UNIVERSAL LAW & METAPHYSICS 854-0211 | GOOD THINGS HAPPEN AT IMMANUEL LUTHERAN 1770 Brickell Ave. Paul Anderson, pastor Worship Services 11 A.M. VISITORS AND NEWCOMERS ALWAYS WELCOME | CHRIST THE KING LUTHERAN CHURCH 11295 S.W. 57 AVE. WORSHIP 9:30 A.M. & 11:00 A.M. SUNDAY SCHOOL 9:30 A.M. & 11:00 CARSTEN H. LUDDER, PASTOR VISIT OUR NEW SANCTUARY | SUNSET CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST 9025 SUNSET DRIVE SERVICES & CHURCH SCHOOL | FIRST UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 121 Alhambra Plaza Rev. Carroll L. Shuster, Pastor Church School-9:30 Α.Μ. Morning Worship - 10:30 Α.Μ. | ST. CATHERINE OF SIENA 9200 S.W. 107 Ave. Fr. Cyril M. Hudak Masses-Vigil Sat. 5 P.M. Sat. & Sun. 3, 4, 10:30, 12:00. | THE LE JEUNE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Le Jeune Rd., at S.W. 4 St. 448-7481 Dr. Robert C. Duhs, Pastor Sunday Services 11:00 Α.Μ. & 7:30 Ρ.Μ. | INDEPENDENT BAPTIST CHURCH WESTWOOD LAKE 4301 S.W. 107 Ave. SUNDAY SCHOOL 9:45 A.M. WORSHIP SERVICE 10:55 Α.Μ. TRAINING UNION 6:30 P.M. WED. MID WEEK PRAYER SERVICE 7:30 Ρ.Μ. MARVIN GOCHENOUR, PASTOR | FLAGAMI BAPTIST CHURCH 860 S.W. 76 Court Phone: 261-1464 Dr. Charles Horton, Pastor SUNDAY SCHOOL 9:30 A.M. WORSHIP SERVICES 10:45 Α.Μ. 7:30 Ρ.Μ. | OLYMPIA HEIGHTS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 3801 S.W. 97 Ave. Pastor Ross M. Geiger Church School-9:00 Α.Μ. Worship Service- 10:00 Α.Μ. & 7:30 Ρ.Μ. | MAGNETIC ENERGY HEALING Free explanation every Mon. 7 P.M. PEACE CHURCH INC. Rev. Charles Collins, 50 S.W. 17 Rd. 854-0211 | UNIVERSITY BAPTIST CHURCH Riviera Drive at Segovia Coral Gables, Florida Sunday Services- 11:00 Α.Μ. & 7:00 Ρ.Μ. PASTOR - DAN YEARY