Fr. Flannery, pastor of Our Lady of Hope in Whitehall and the Chapel of the Assumption in Huletts Landing, stands overlooking Lake George.
It was my great pleasure recently to get together with Fr. Michael Flannery who is pastor of Our Lady of Hope in Whitehall and the Chapel of the Assumption in Huletts Landing.
Father agreed to chat with me about a wide range of topics.
Father, one of the things I’ve noticed about you is that you have a wonderful sense of humor and people can really tell you enjoy being a priest. Could you tell our readers what you like most about being a priest?
“I love saying the Mass every day most of all, and it’s a wonderful privilege being involved in people’s lives. I get to see family life at so many different levels. Last week, I went from saying a funeral mass in the morning to doing a baptism in the afternoon. Usually baptisms are done on Sunday’s but this was a special case because the baby’s father was a soldier in Afghanistan. I honestly love it all except the administration. (Big laugh.) Our culture has become so secularized but the world will return to Christ someday, and I feel like I’m carrying the torch for future generations.”
Father, perhaps you could tell us about your own family growing up. I know your parents live nearby.
“Well, I lived on Long Island until I was 14 and then my family moved to Granville. My father worked as a general contractor and, for a short period starting in 1992, he worked as a corrections officer in Great Meadow corrections facility. Both my mother and my father attend my masses regularly and it’s nice to live close to them. I have one brother.”
That was probably a perfect segway to my next question. Is part of your “territory” Great Meadow corrections facility?
“Great Meadow actually falls within the boundary of Our Lady of Hope parish, but they have their own ministry office which is staffed by another priest. I do say Mass and hear confessions there occasionally though.”
Prisoners are largely a forgotten population. Could you tell our readers what it is like to walk into a prison as a member of the clergy?
“The inmates there actually are extremely respectful of the clergy. I have never had a problem. Their confessions are certainly not your typical confessions. I sense great remorse in speaking to prisoners and a great fear of the Lord. It’s not a show for them, it comes from the heart.”
Is it safe for you?
“I don’t think in those terms. There’s a large officer presence, but my job is to bring the Gospel message into the walls. God always takes care of the rest.”
Father could you share some about your education and the call to your vocation?
“The short story is this. There has never been a time in my life when I felt God wasn’t calling me, even as a young boy. My parents never mentioned becoming a priest to me. I thought at first I was being called to family life because I always wanted a big family. However, I began to feel that God was calling me to become a priest when I was a freshman at Siena.
I actually have a distinct moment when this happened. I was heading home on President’s Day weekend in 1989 and I told God, ‘I’ll be a priest if you want but I want a sign and you’ll have to break it to my parents’ because I knew if I became a priest they probably wouldn’t get any grandchildren because at that time my brother wasn’t the settling down type of guy.
I got home and I was standing in the kitchen and my mother said to me, ‘Have you ever considered becoming a priest?’ and I just knew. I cried tears of joy that night because in that very moment I knew God was speaking to me.
I went on to Wadhams Hall Seminary and then Catholic University. I have now been a priest for 12 years, and I have to say I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.”
Father what a wonderful story. What would you say to a young man or woman who is considering religious life today?
“Pope John Paul II said it best: “Be not afraid.” The biggest point I would make is that the lines our culture feeds you are all wrong. You’ll hear these thoughts: you’ll never be happy, you’ll be lonely, you’ll miss out on family life when in actuality it’s the reverse: You’ll have true joy, you won’t be lonely and you’ll have an extended family like you’d never expect. Don’t give in to the lines and the negative thoughts. They’re not true. Look where God has led me. He has called me to the clean waters of Lake George at Huletts Landing and the wonderful rolling hills of Washington County, probably one of the most beautiful areas in the entire world!”
Father I know in your travels you have been to many places. How does Huletts differ?
“Huletts is unique because there’s a core community there that doesn’t change but every week we have visitors and guests whom I really enjoy meeting. I look forward in the winter to seeing everyone again. It’s a community like none other.”
One last message for our readers?
“Please tell everyone, I pray for them all the time and I wish God’s abundant blessings on everyone. Always feel free to stop and chat, I enjoy meeting everyone and sharing in their life’s story.”