Celebrate the life of a man who lived his faith

Patrick Michael Flood dedicated his life to obtaining social justice for all 
 

Patrick Michael Flood, a native of Fond du Lac, Wis., was born on March 15, 1933, just two days before the feast day of his patron saint. This past November, God called him home. However, in keeping with Irish tradition, we do not mourn his passing, but rather celebrate the life of a man who lived his faith to its fullest and enriched the lives of all that knew him.

Flood’s life began in a non-circumspect manner. He attended classes, first at Eden School and then St. Mary Springs Academy, Fond du Lac. He went on to receive a B.A. of Philosophy from the St. Francis Seminary, Milwaukee, and, in 1959, he was ordained a priest in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.

After his ordination, Flood’s life took on a completely new meaning. While assigned as an associate pastor at inner city parishes, he was inspired to found Cooperation Westside Association (COWSA), a neighborhood group still active in Milwaukee today. The spirit of Vatican II reforms and the civil rights’ movement of the 60s buoyed Flood to further the cause of social justice. Saul Alinsky of Chicago trained him in community organizing principles and then Flood joined a group of priest activists who were working to empower the community. In 1969, the priest activists’ group founded the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, a domestic anti-poverty social justice program. The National Conference of Catholic Bishops approved the campaign in 1970 and CCHD began funding itself through special annual collections in parishes around the United States. Today, the CCHD exists as it did then and has raised more than $500 million making it possible for community organizations to positively affect the lives of more than half of America's poor.

From 1967 to 1975, Flood served as the executive director of the Council on Urban Life, an independently incorporated office of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Through executive positions with the Interfaith Housing Foundation of Wisconsin, the Rehabilitation Council of Greater Milwaukee and the Congregations United for Community Action (CUFCA), Flood continued his community service work. Then, in 1975, Flood earned an M.A. of Urban Affairs from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Though he sought and received canonical release from his vows of ordination and dispensation from the Apostolic See to marry in 1976, Flood continued the work he began as a priest. In 1981, Flood was appointed executive director of the Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee and, after moving to Texas, served as the executive director of Austin Metropolitan Ministries (renamed Austin Area Interreligious Ministries in 1989). Flood retired from AAIM in 2000.

When he retired, Flood continued his life of service with his policy of "love in action." Through his compassionate, charismatic and easy-going nature, he continued to collect friends and share wonderful stories and earned wisdom with those who sought it.

Flood lived a Christ-like life on earth, but looked forward to an eternal journey with God once his human adventure ended. His devotion to family, friendship and community will be remembered long after his passing, as will his fight to make social justice a reality for all.

Article by Gillian Lester-George
Cover picture (Patrick Michael Flood) submitted by Archdiocese of Milwaukee Archives