Archbishop Harry J. Flynn was born May 2, 1933, in Schenectady, New York. After receiving B.A. and M.A. degrees in English from Siena College, Loudonville, NY, he attended Mount Saint Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg, Maryland, and was ordained to the priesthood on May 28, 1960, in Albany, NY. Then-Father Flynn served as an associate pastor, pastor, high school teacher, retreat master, and spiritual leader in several various assignments in the Diocese of Albany. He also served as the Dean, Vice Rector and Rector of Mount Saint Mary's Seminary from 1965-1979.

Ordained Bishop on June 24, 1986, Bishop Flynn served as the Bishop of the Diocese of Lafayette, Louisiana until being named Coadjutor Archbishop for the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis, Minnesota, in February of 1994. On October 1, 1995, Archbishop Flynn succeeded Archbishop John Roach as head of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis.

Archbishop Flynn currently serves as Chairman of the Saint Paul Seminary Board of Trustees, Saint Paul; Chairman of the University of Saint Thomas Board of Trustees, Saint Paul; President of the Saint John Vianney Seminary Board of Directors, Saint Paul; and on the College of Saint Catherine Board of Trustees, Saint Paul. Archbishop Flynn is also a member of the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops (USCCB) Committee for Black Catholics; the USCCB Committee on Sexual Abuse; and the USCCB Committee on the Charismatic Renewal.

Archbishop Flynn retired on May 2, 2008 and Archbishop John C. Nienstedt succeeded him as Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis.