Boys Town Washington

Boys Town Mourns Passing of Msgr. Joseph Ariano

Monsignor Joseph F. Ariano, 86, of Silver Spring, Maryland, and a priest of the Omaha Archdiocese went to his heavenly reward on December 15, 2007 after a brief illness.

Monsignor Ariano was born on August 12, 1921 and lived his early life in Dardanelle, Arkansas. Orphaned at an early age he lived with his grandmother and other family members. At the age of 18 and on the streets of Kansas City, Missouri, he read about Father Flanagan and Boys Town in a newspaper that he used to cover holes in the soles of his shoes. In June of 1939 he wrote Father Flanagan a letter asking to be "given a chance". He began his journey to Boys Town on June 16, 1939. The young Ariano, using his only money, purchased a bus ticket to Omaha, Nebraska. Upon arrival in Omaha he learned that Boys Town was 12 miles west of the bus station. With all of his worldly possessions clutched in a shoe box he walked to Boys Town and was welcomed into the kind embrace of Father Flanagan and a newfound life.

Upon graduation from Boys Town in 1940, Msgr. Ariano expressed a desire to become a priest. Father Flanagan encouraged, counseled and assisted him throughout the years of his schooling. He attended school at St. John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota, then St. John's Seminary in Brighton, Massachusetts, and completed his studies in Conception, Missouri. He was ordained a priest at St. Cecilia's Cathedral in Omaha on May 19, 1951, the fifth Boys Town graduate to become a priest. He spent the next five years working as priest, teacher, and Dean of Boys at Boys Town. During this time he established himself as an eloquent preacher throughout parishes in the Omaha Archdiocese.

In 1957, he was commissioned a chaplain in the United States Air Force serving his country in a number of postings throughout the world including Vietnam and Turkey. He culminated his military service as Vice Chancellor at the Military Archdiocese of Washington D.C., retiring in 1977. He continued working with the Military Archdiocese after retirement and was named a Domestic Prelate to His Holiness Pope John Paul II in 1986. During his military career he received the Bronze Star Medal, Air Force Commendation with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Vietnam Campaign Medal, Outstanding Unit Medal, Longevity Medal and Meritorious Service Medal.

It was a chance meeting with Father Val Peter, then Executive Director of Boys Town, that brought Msgr. Ariano full circle back to Boys Town. This meeting led to the creation of the Boys Town of Maryland office with Msgr. Ariano assisting with the recently established Boys Town of Washington D.C. and its programs in Maryland. In this capacity he represented Boys Town and thousands of its citizens throughout the Washington D.C. area and provided spiritual guidance to children in the care of Boys Town.

Msgr. Ariano has served the parishioners of St. John the Baptist in Silver Spring, Maryland for the last ten years. He is remembered for his eloquence in the pulpit and his kind a caring ministry.

Msgr. Ariano is survived by two nephews, Matthew and Eugene and his beloved dog and faithful companion, Farley and many, many friends throughout the world.

When young Msgr. Ariano arrived at Boys Town, alone and looking for a chance he was greeted by Father Flanagan with these kind words, "Welcome, dear. You're home now." 

On December 15th Msgr. Joseph Ariano went to heaven and into the waiting arms of Father Flanagan once more and, no doubt, was greeted with these words, "Welcome, dear. You're home now."

Viewing will be on Friday, December 21 from 7:00-9:00 PM and the Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 AM on Saturday, December 22nd at St. John the Baptist Church in Silver Spring, Maryland. Burial, with full military honors, will be at Arlington National Cemetery on Tuesday, 11:00 AM on January 29, 2008.

A Memorial Mass will be said at the Immaculate Conception Chapel at Boys Town, Nebraska at 10:00 AM on Thursday, December 27, 2007.

Contributions may be made in Msgr. Ariano's memory to Boys Town of Washington D.C., 4801 Sargent Road, N.E., Washington D.C. 20017