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At the age of fifteen Patrick entered the Dominican Novitiate at Tallaght and made a simple
profession on November 21, 1861. He made a solemn profession on October 3, 1864 to Father
Burke in Rome. He was ordained a priest on March 16, 1867. After his ordination he wrote to a
friend telling him he had reached the goal of his desire in being ordained to the priesthood. The
friend responded, "Why not aspire, Vincent, to the perfection of the priesthood! San Clemente
has seen many of his alumni mitered."
He returned to Ireland in 1868 after receiving a degree of Lector of Theology. He was
assigned
to the convent of St. Mary's, Cork. From Cork he was transferred to Waterford to assist his old
San Clemente friend Father Wheeler in building the beautiful church and convent.
Following this he was appointed Prior in Galway. Before the expiration of his term he was
sent to
govern the convent at Newry. At Newry he built the convent and did much to beautify the
church. He was becoming skilled in church and convent architecture.
When Father Burke died, Father Flood was sent to Tallaght as Prior to finish the work begun
by
Father Burke. The church was completed three years later and was called St. Mary's, Tallaght. It
is now known as the Burke Memorial Church. It was consecrated on the second Sunday of
October 1886.
Shortly after Father Flood's second term as Prior of Tallaght he received word from Rome
that he
was appointed coadjutor to the Archbishop of Trinidad. Thus the miter, predicted by his friend
twenty years before, was about to rest on his head. He made every effort to escape the honor for
he felt unworthy, however, Rome insisted and he had to submit.
He was consecrated on August 15, 1887 in the Pro-Cathedral, Dublin by Dr. Walsh,
Archbishop
of Dublin, assisted by Dr. O'Callaghan, O.P., Bishop of Cork and Dr. Woodlock, Bishop of
Ardagh, who was an old friend of Dr. Flood's.
Two years later, on the death of Dr. Gonin, Father Flood became the fifth Archbishop
Port-O-
Spain. He served in that capacity until his death on May 17, 1907.
During his tenure he built the official residence of the Archbishop. In 1890 he was in
Brooklyn,
New York to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the ordination of Bishop Loughlin, the first
Bishop of the Diocese of Brooklyn. In May of 1893 he was at the consecration of St. Mel's
Cathedral, Longford. Through the kindness of His Grace, the Most Reverend Anthony Pantin,
C.S.Sp., the late Archbishop of Trinidad, West Indies, I've come into possession of the
following from the West India Committee Circular of December 18, 1906:
"The Most Reverend Patrick Vincent Flood, Archbishop of Port of Spain, was born in
Ireland,
and made his preliminary studies at St. Mel's Seminary, Longford, and his theological studies in
the Dominican College of the Minerva, Rome where he was ordained priest in 1867. After his
ordination, he served for twenty years in the Mission in Ireland in Churches of the Dominican
Order, to which he belongs. In 1887 he was consecrated Bishop Coadjutor of Port of Spain, and
succeeded, on the death of his predecessor in March 1889, to the Archbishopric of the See. Not
only is Archbishop Flood a churchman of the highest ability, but a congenial companion. Among
all classes and sects he is extremely popular, and he is a highly esteemed member of the West
India Committee."
His Grace also sent the following, which seems like Archbishop Flood's obituary, from the
Mirror
(I assume that is a newspaper):
"His Grace the Most Reverend Dr. Patrick Vincent Flood, D.D., Archbishop of Port of Spain
and
Metropolitan of the West Indies, died at his residence, St. Clair, yesterday morning and died as -
could he have chosen - he would have wished straight from harness. The end was entirely
unexpected, and the event caused a profound sensation throughout the city, where the news,
travelling (sic) with that melancholy haste characteristic of bad tidings, was known to all within a
half an hour of its occurraence (sic). Dr. Flood took part int he St. Joseph convent centenary
celebration on Sunday, and was then in the best of health, radiating his geniality on all around. On
Monday night he sailed on R.M. Coastal steamer Spay for Too, which he intended to be his first
port of call in a tour throughout the northen district of the island for the purpose of administering
the rite of Confirmation to candidates at several churches. He got slightly wet when landing at
Too on Tuesday morning, and caught a cold. Apparently it was nothing more serious, and on
Wednesday he still intended to proceed to Matelot. Dr. Cleaver, the D.M.O., advised him that
such a course would not be wise, but His Grace, not feeling at all seriously ill, was not at all
inclined to come back. Dr. Cleaver, however, insisted, and Dr. Flood returned by the R.M.S.
Kennet, reaching Port of Spain shortly before nine o'clock on Thursday evening. He drove home
and his chaplain, Rev. Father O'Bryne, advised him to go to bed immediately and send for the
doctor. His Grace, declaring he had nothing more than a slight cold, would not, and remained up
for some time talking. Later, he walked upstairs, and, panting when half way up, remarked with a
smile: "Dear me, I must be getting old at last." At six o'clock yesterday morning Father O'Bryne
saw him before going across to his church at St. Ann's, and was assured by Dr. Flood that he had
passed a very good night and felt better. Father O'Bryne again suggested that His Grace should
see a medical man, and, reluctantly consenting, the Archbishop sent a messenger to Dr. Knox,
asking him to call sometime during the morning, "before breakfast." Dr. Knox, however, came
immediately on receiving the message, and, recognising (sic) that the case was serious, telephoned
to Father O'Bryne at St. Ann's, asking him to come over at once, as His Grace was "seriously ill."
Father O'Bryne hurried across immediately arriving just before eight o'clock; but he was too late.
Dr. Flood died a few minutes before he reached the house. That death came unexpectedly for him
as it was sudden may be judged by the fact that shortly before the end his servant, rearranging his
pillows, asked how he felt "Much more comfortable" was the answer. The servant went out,
returned within three minutes, and death had come in the interim. Dr. Eakin was also sent for and
arrived shortly before death."
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