SPENCER – Fr. Matthew Flynn, O.C.S.O. of St. Joseph’s Abbey, passed away peacefully in the abbey’s infirmary on the morning of December 4th. Born Paul Gregory Flynn, in Weymouth, Massachusetts, on October 28, 1930, he was the son of Augustine and Esther (née Sabean) Flynn. He graduated from Boston College High School.
On January 9, 1952 he entered St. Joseph’s Abbey in Spencer. He pronounced his solemn vows as a Trappist monk in 1957 and was ordained a priest in 1958. His seminary training was conducted at St. Joseph’s Abbey and at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome.
Over the span of his monastic life Father Matthew faithfully served St. Joseph’s Abbey as sub-master of the choir novices, retreat house cook, retreat director, abbot’s council member and director of The Holy Rood Guild. At various times he was also chaplain, retreat director or confessor to the Trappistine nuns at Mount St. Mary’s Abbey in Wrentham, Santa Rita Abbey in Arizona, Our Lady of the Angels Monastery in Virginia, the Benedictine nuns at St. Scholastica’s Priory in Petersham and the Abbey of Regina Laudis in Bethlehem, Connecticut, the Cistercian Lay Contemplatives and the priests living at the Southgate Retirement Community in Shrewsbury. He is remembered most fondly as an ongoing and very wise spiritual director and special mentor of many years to faithful and loving friends more numerous than can be numbered.
In addition to his monastic brothers at the monastery, Father Matthew is survived by his brother William Flynn and his wife Eileen of Ohio, his sister-in-law, also named Eileen, of Vermont, widow of his brother Robert, and his several nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews. The monks wish to thank the lay staff at St. Joseph’s Abbey Resident Healthcare Facility, the abbey’s infirmary, for the dedicated care they gave Father Matthew in his final days. With gratitude for the sublime gift of his presence among us, the brothers commend Father Matthew’s soul to your prayers. There are no calling hours. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Joseph’s Abbey on Friday, December 7th, at 11A.M. Burial is in the abbey cemetery. J. HENRI MORIN & SON FUNERAL HOME, 23 Maple Terrace, Spencer, 508-885-3992, is directing arrangements.