Fr. Joseph-Mary (John) Flanery of the Infant Jesus was born on December 25, 1921 in Rosiclare, Illinois to parents Dan and Celia (nee Britton) Flanery. In March 1942, Father was baptized into the Catholic faith. “Jack” honorably served his country from October 7, 1943 to September 28, 1945, receiving the rank of First Lieutenant in the Army Air Corp. He flew 50 combat missions as a Navigator in the Eastern African Middle Eastern Theatre Campaign and received the Air Medal with Three Oak Leaf Clusters and the EAME Theater Campaign Ribbon with Four Bronze Stars. He resigned on VJ Day so as to be eligible for discharge. He continued flying B-25’s in Advanced Pilot Training after the war ended.

After finishing his military service, Father entered the Venard Preparatory School in Summit, Pennsylvania where he studied for a year and a half. He briefly attended Maryknoll Major Seminary, leaving after a semester to enter the Carmelite Order. On May 4, 1949, Fr Joseph-Mary made his simple profession and was ordained to the priesthood on June 4, 1955. During his priestly ministry, Fr. Joseph-Mary spent several years as a missionary in the Philippines (1958-64)(1959-1960 Apostolic Administrator of the Prelature of Infanta, Quezon)(1966-74). In later years, Father returned to the United States, serving as Provincial Secretary both in Youngstown, Ohio (1975-76) and Holy Hill, Hubertus, Wisconsin (1976-1990).

Fr. Joseph-Mary died on May 31, 2009 and is buried in the Carmelite Cemetery, Holy Hill, Hubertus, Wisconsin.