During the 27 years he served as pastor of Epiphany Church, Uptown, Auxiliary Bishop John B. McDowell was known for his acts of charity.
When the Myrians, an organization that helps mentally ill street women, needed space to operate, he made the parish's former elementary school building available.
"And if someone was a stranger in Pittsburgh and didn't have the means for a bus ticket to get home, Bishop McDowell provided them with a ticket," said the Rev. James W. Garvey, a former pastor of Epiphany Parish.
Auxiliary Bishop John B. McDowell, a former superintendent of schools and vicar for education for the Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, died Thursday, Feb. 25, 2010 at UPMC Passavant in McCandless. He was 88.
"Bishop McDowell was a giant of the Church," said Pittsburgh Bishop David A. Zubik, "a national figure in Catholic education, and an influential bishop in our national conference."
Zubik said that McDowell "used his many God-given gifts for the good of the Church that have blessed us in so many different ways."
In recognition of his service to Catholic education, a consolidated elementary school in Baldwin Borough in 1995 was named the Bishop John B. McDowell Regional School.
Born and raised in New Castle, Bishop McDowell was the son of Bernard A. and Louise Hannon McDowell.
He attended St. Lawrence O'Toole Elementary School in Garfield, Central Catholic High School in Oakland and earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from St. Vincent College near Latrobe.
At Catholic University of America, he earned a master's degree in administration and education in 1950 and a doctorate in education and philosophy in 1952. Duquesne University awarded him an honorary doctorate of literature in 1962.
He was ordained a priest in November 1945 and served as associate pastor at St. Irenaeus Parish, Oakmont. He was ordained auxiliary bishop of Pittsburgh and titular bishop of Tamazuca on Sept. 8, 1966.
Bishop McDowell confirmed well over 100,000 young people and continued to celebrate confirmations after he retired in 1996.
He was always a friend to and advocate for his fellow priests, said the Rev. Ronald Lengwin, spokesman for the Diocese of Pittsburgh.
"He was able to inspire and motivate people to do their best," Lengwin said.
Visitation will begin Tuesday at 1 p.m. following the reception of the body at Epiphany Church and will continue until 9 p.m., with evening prayer at 7 p.m.
On Wednesday, morning prayer from the Office of the Dead will be offered at 9 a.m. with Zubik presiding. Visitation will continue until 11 a.m. Bishop McDowell's body will be moved to St. Paul Cathedral in Oakland with Office of the Dead scheduled for 11:30 a.m., and visitation from 1 to 9 p.m. with Zubik to celebrate a Mass of Translation at 7 p.m.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated by Zubik at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Paul Cathedral, with committal at Calvary Cemetery, Hazelwood.
