Father Augustine Flood, O.S.B., who served as the twelfth president of Saint Vincent College from 1982 to 1985, died Thursday, November 11, 2021. He was born May 29, 1938 in Hollywood, California, a son of the late James J. Flood and Lucile (Fleischer) Flood. He was the last surviving of his siblings among their four children, including Jacqueline Flood Truesdale, Marguerite V. Young and James J. Flood, Jr. He was predeceased by nephews and niece Stephen Young, Kathy Young and Michael A. Truesdale, Surviving are a number of nieces and nephews, including William Lloyd Young Jr., James Young, Julia Flood Truesdale, John D. Truesdale Jr. and James Flood Truesdale and many great-nieces and nephews.
He attended Saint Paul the Apostle Parochial School, West Los Angeles, and was a 1955 graduate of Loyola High School, Los Angeles, California. In 1959, he earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Saint John’s College, Camarillo, and he received a licentiate in Sacred Theology from the Pontifical Athenaeum of Sant’ Anselmo, Rome, Italy, in 1964. As a monk of Saint Andrew’s Priory Valyermo, he made his first profession of vows in 1960, and was ordained a priest on July 25, 1964, by Bishop John J. Ward of Los Angeles.
Pursuing further studies at the University of Munich, Germany, and the University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Father Augustine completed his doctorate of philosophy degree in 1975 at Claremont Graduate School. While in Germany, he served as pastor of the American Military Chapel, Dachau (1965-1967). He then was director of Saint Andrew’s Retreat House, Valyermo (1967-1970) and associate pastor in residence at Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, Claremont (1969-1973) and Catholic chaplain at Wayside Honor Rancho, Saugus, California (1974).
Coming to the Saint Vincent Benedictine Community in 1974, Father Augustine served as college chaplain, director of the Liberal Arts Program; dorm moderator (1975-1980); director of continuing education and summer sessions (1980-1982); associate professor of religious studies at Saint Vincent College (1975-1980) and associate professor of systematic theology at Saint Vincent Seminary (1975-1980. In June, 1982, he was named the twelfth president of Saint Vincent College, and he served in that capacity until March, 1985. During his tenure as president, he continued as a theology faculty member. He served at Wimmer Priory, Taiwan, which is a mission of Saint Vincent Archabbey (1985-1989); was named parochial vicar (1990-1991), then administrator of Saint Boniface Parish in (1991-1994). He was appointed administrator of Saint Bartholomew Parish, Crabtree, in 1994, where he served until 2002. In 2001 he was named stipendarius for the Archabbey, and served in that capacity until 2015.
The body of Father Augustine will be received at 2 p.m. Monday, November 15, 2021 in the parlor of the Elizabeth J. Roderick Center at Saint Vincent Seminary. Viewing for Father Augustine will follow until 5 p.m. in the Roderick Center. The wake service will begin at 7:15 p.m. Monday in the Basilica. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Archabbot Martin de Porres Bartel, O.S.B., at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, November 16, 2021 in the Basilica, followed by the rite of committal at the Saint Vincent Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Benedictine Health and Welfare Fund at Saint Vincent Archabbey, 300 Fraser Purchase Rd., Latrobe, PA 15650.
