Denis M. Long, Pioneer and Early Priests, Archdiocese of Brisbane, Deceased or retired by 1929, 2021, p 192:
Rev Fr James Flood

Fr Flood is not mentioned on the Sick and Infirmity Society's prayer list of deceased priests. He was still alive when the list was prepared in 1930. Fr Flood spent at least two years in the diocese of Brisbane before Rockhampton became a diocese in 1882.

James Flood was born to Terence and Rose (nee Short) Flood of Carrigallen in Kilmore Ireland on 10 February 1849. He entered All Hallows Missionary College in 1873 from Fr Duffy's school in Moyne, and was ordained a priest for the diocese of Brisbane on 24 June 1878.(1) Among his companionship at All Hallows were Dr O' Connor of Armidale, Bishop Doyle of Lismore and Monsignor O'Brien for many years the rector of St John's College within Sydney University.(2)

Fr Flood arrived in Brisbane on 3 December 1878.(3) His first appointment was in Ipswich. In 1880 he moved to Bowen which was still in the Brisbane diocese until late 1882.

He remained in Bowen until 1883. He then went to Ravenswood for six years. While stationed in Rockhampton from 1889 to 1892 he ministered at Mt Morgan and Wowan. Pugh's Almanac lists him back at Bowen for some time with Fr Jules Bucas.(4)

By 1893 Fr Flood was in New Plymouth New Zealand. In 1904 he moved again this time to Western Australia where he ministered in the Katanning and Albany districts in the southwest of that state. Wherever he went he won all the hearts by his zeal and courtesy.(5)

All Hallows records state that Fr Flood retired to the Spanish Benedictine monastery in New Norcia in 1906. While there, in 1908, he wrote a history of the monastery.(6) His golden jubilee of priesthood was celebrated with great joy in the dining hall of St Ildephonsus' College in New Norcia. On that occasion he was presented with a gold chalice.

The New Norcia people were honoured to have among them the only priest in W.A. who had stood at God's altar for 50 years.(7)

Though he had laboured all his life as a secular priest, Father Flood, on the eve of his death, expressed a desire to become a spiritual son of St Benedict and on July 15 the Right Rev Abbot Catalan enrolled him as an Oblate.(8)

Fr James Flood OSB died in New Norcia on 28 July 1931 at the age of 82.(9)

The burial took place in the little Mission cemetery, where the Fathers, Marist Brothers of St Ildephonsus' (sic) College, the Sisters of St Joseph, and the Spanish sisters at the orphanage bade farewell to a dearly loved friend. - RIP.(10)

Footnotes
1. Kevin Condon cm, The Missionary College of All Hallows 1842 – 1891, 1986, student number 1349, p. 340.
2. Catholic Press, Sydney, 20 Aug 1931, page 18.
3. Brisbane Courier, 4 Dec 1878, p. 2.
4. Pugh's Almanac, 1988 to 1901.
5. Catholic Press, Sydney, op. cit.
6. Condon, op. cit.
7. Southern Cross, Adelaide, 3 Aug 1928, p. 19.
8. Catholic Press, Sydney, op. cit.
9. Deceased Catholic Clergy in Australia.
10. Catholic Press, Sydney, op. cit.

Reproduced by permission of Fr Denis Long.