Flood, Matthew C. (Father)

Jesuit Father Matthew C. Flood died on March 7, 2014, at Murray-Weigel Hall, Bronx, N.Y. Born in the Bronx on Jan. 12, 1929, to Michael and Ellen (Horan) Flood, he was 85 years old, a Jesuit for 67 years and a priest for 53 years.

He completed his secondary education at Xavier High School in 1946 and entered the Society of Jesus at St. Andrew-on-Hudson on Aug. 14, 1946. Following his first vows there on Aug. 15, 1948, and two years of collegiate studies, he traveled south to begin philosophy at Woodstock College, Woodstock, Md. (1950-52). He completed his studies in philosophy at Bellarmine College in Plattsburgh, N.Y., in 1953.

For his teaching experience he taught German back at his alma mater, Xavier, from 1953-56. He returned to Woodstock for his studies in theology in 1956. After his third year of theology he returned to Xavier and again taught German there for one year. He then completed his theology studies in 1961, gaining the Licentiate in Sacred Theology in June. He was ordained to the priesthood at the Fordham University Church on June 17, 1961, by Bishop Joseph Pernicone.

His final year of Jesuit formation was at Auriesville, N.Y., 1961-62, followed by his profession of final vows at Fordham University on Aug. 15, 1963. Fr. Flood began a long career of teaching at Fordham Prep in 1962, teaching theology, German and Spanish. For many summers he traveled to St. Otto Parish in Nuremburg, Germany, to assist there as well as improve his German. He spent a year (1970-71) in Mainz, Germany, studying German and he enjoyed a sabbatical (1993-94) first at the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley, Calif., and then a semester in Spain.

In view of the growing Hispanic community in New York, Fr. Flood had been studying Spanish, and in 1987 he completed his master’s degree in Spanish from Fordham University. This enabled him to preside at Spanish liturgies in the area.

From 1999-2010 he continued at Fordham Prep with a reduced teaching schedule as assistant librarian and as assistant alumni chaplain. In 2012 he was assigned to the Jesuit infirmary, Murray-Weigel Hall, also on the Fordham campus.

Fr. Flood had a deep love and appreciation of music, and thus sang in the St. Cecilia Chorus in New York City and served as Musical Director for Fordham Prep dramatic productions for many years. He also lent his voice and leadership to liturgies at Jesuit communities.

He is survived by his brother, Msgr. William Flood, who resides at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Parish in Bayside, Queens, N.Y.