Originally published at National Catholic Register
“There is no such thing as a bad boy.” — Servant of God Father Edward Flanagan, founder of Boys Town
By 1937, the success of Boys Town in Omaha, Nebraska, founded by Servant of God Father Edward Flanagan, was gaining notice. A year later, in 1938, he and Boys Town became household names with the phenomenal success of the MGM movie Boys Town, starring Spencer Tracy.
Today, Father Flanagan’s life story and that of Boys Town — founded in a cornfield in October 1921, with more than 150 charges — is getting another boost with Spirit Juice Studios’ new documentary, playing in theaters across America for one night only, Oct. 8.
With Catholic actor Jonathan Roumie serving as narrator and executive producer, Heart of a Servant: The Father Flanagan Story follows the life of this shepherd of young souls from his birth in Ireland through his years at Boys Town.
“He was somebody who saw the common humanity we all share as brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ,” Roumie says in the film, setting the theme. “And if other people didn’t, he would fight for what was right.”
The film chronicles the priest’s life and eventually charts his trips
