THE Border will on Thursday celebrate one of its finest when it bids farewell to Father Kevin Flanagan.
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Sacred Heart North Albury parish priest Father Flanagan died on December 21, aged 89.
He had retired only mid-year after 54 years as a priest including the past four decades at Sacred Heart.
Father Flanagan survived a heart attack in 2003, but continued to work for another 14 years to be the priest of choice for countless weddings, funerals and baptisms as well as regular church services.
Reverend Kevin O’Reilly from the Wagga Catholic Diocese led the tributes for Father Flanagan.
“We’re sorry to lose such a faithful servant and a good man,” he said.
“For many years he carried out very faithful service to the church and to people in general.”
Father Kevin Flanagan was very much front and centre at St Matthew's Anglican Church Christmas Eve children's service in Albury.
Father Peter Macleod-Miller spoke to the youngsters of his dearly departed friend through warmth and wit and a metaphorical sprinkling of pixie dust.
He said Father Flanagan was bigger than any one church.
He then offered communion to anyone who would like to partake irrespective of their denomination or age. In honour of his friend.
“Uncle Kevin, it was with great sadness that some of your family listened to your final breaths on December 21,” he wrote in the tribute.
“We knew you were surrounded not just by our love, but by the Albury community and the wider Catholic community’s overwhelming love for this international, inter-denominational, classy, classless, compassionate, wise, inclusive, inter-generational priest.
“We thank you for all the fun times and the way that you have shaped our lives.”
Sacred Heart Parish Council chairman Justin Clancy said Father Flanagan’s influence on the community extended well beyond the parish.
“He lived life to its absolute fullest,” he said.
Father Flanagan’s funeral will be held at Sacred Heart church, North Albury, on Thursday at 10.30am.
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