Born in 1921 in New Castle, Bishop McDowell was the son of a railroad worker, Bernard McDowell, and his wife, Louise, who made sure the family knelt together daily to pray the rosary. It was a lesson that took; as an adult Bishop McDowell prayed for two hours every day.
The pastor at his childhood church in Garfield inspired him to become a priest.
"I always thought the priesthood was where I wanted to be," he said in 1991, on the 25th anniversary of his consecration as a Bishop in 1966. "Now I am at the point where I can say it truly is. I've enjoyed every minute of it."
He attended Central Catholic High School and earned a bachelor's degree at St. Vincent College in 1942 and a master's degree there in 1944. He later earned a doctorate in education and philosophy at Catholic University of America.
Because of the demand for priests after the Second World War, Bishop McDowell was ordained six months early on November 4, 1945. After several years at St. Irenaeus Church in Oakmont, he became assistant superintendent of schools in 1952, superintendent in 1955 and vicar for education in 1970. He also served as pastor of Epiphany church from 1969 until his retirement.
Time magazine once wrote about his effort in pioneering dual enrollment, which allowed public school students to spend part of the day studying religion at parochial schools. He also started education programs for retarded children and put parochial schools on a non-graded system that allowed students to work at their own ability levels.
In 1972 Bishop McDowell crafted one of the most important statements on religious education, the United States Bishops' pastoral statement, "To Teach as Jesus Did." When Pope John Paul II visited the U.S. in 1979, he praised the document in a speech to Bishops in San Francisco.
"He said, 'Here, you have said it, now enforce it,'" Bishop McDowell said after the visit. "He put his imprimatur right on it. It almost knocked me out of my chair. It made me feel the work was justified."
Bishop McDowell was also sought after for his financial acumen. Pittsburgh Bishop Donald Wuerl entrusted him with such tasks as eliminating a twenty year diocesan deficit, which he did. But Bishop McDowell also endured the ire of some teachers in the system who complained over the years about low pay.
In addition to his other accomplishments, Bishop McDowell wrote seven biographies on the past Bishops of the Pittsburgh Diocese. He completed his autobiography in 2007.
At 45 years of age, McDowell was appointed Auxiliary of the Diocese of Pittsburgh by Pope Paul VI, receiving his episcopal consecration with the titular see of Tamazuca on September 8, 1966, from Monsignor John Joseph Wright, future Cardinal Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy, assisted by Bishops William Graham Connare and Vincent Martin Leonard.
Throughout his episcopate, McDowell served under five Bishops, two of which would later become Cardinals: John Joseph Wright, Vincent Martin Leonard, Anthony Joseph Bevilacqua, Donald William Wuerl and David Allen Zubik.
Confirming more than 100,000 children, he was able to explain God to them in simple terms, using metaphors and stories. Among the candidates whom he ordained to the priesthood, one finds Cardinal Sean Patrick O'Malley OFM. Cap., Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Baltimore.
In recognition of his service in 1995, a consolidated elementary school in Baldwin Borough was named the Bishop John B. McDowell Regional School, although it has since closed.
The pastor at St. Ursula in Hampton, remembered a homily that the bishop gave to children at a summer camp in the 1950's.
"He asked the children what is the first thing a cow does when it gets up in the morning, and the last thing it does before going to sleep at night," he once recalled. "The answer was, it gets on its knees. And he told them that was what they should do, too."
"The teacher who is not kind does not understand the meaning of teaching," he told 3,000 teachers in 1962.
Bishop David Zubik called him a "Giant of the Church" who was influential at the national level, especially in education, guiding a school system that once boasted 120,000 students.
Bishop McDowell, who retired in 1996, died Thursday, February 25, 2010, at UPMC Passavant. He was 88.
Reception of the body took place at the Epiphany church, Uptown, on the following Tuesday at 1 pm., where visitation was held until the next day, when his body was transferred to St. Paul's Cathedral, where funeral Mass was celebrated on Thursday at 11 am., presided by Bishop Zubik. Committal followed at Calvary Cemetery.
The pastor at his childhood church in Garfield inspired him to become a priest.
"I always thought the priesthood was where I wanted to be," he said in 1991, on the 25th anniversary of his consecration as a Bishop in 1966. "Now I am at the point where I can say it truly is. I've enjoyed every minute of it."
He attended Central Catholic High School and earned a bachelor's degree at St. Vincent College in 1942 and a master's degree there in 1944. He later earned a doctorate in education and philosophy at Catholic University of America.
Because of the demand for priests after the Second World War, Bishop McDowell was ordained six months early on November 4, 1945. After several years at St. Irenaeus Church in Oakmont, he became assistant superintendent of schools in 1952, superintendent in 1955 and vicar for education in 1970. He also served as pastor of Epiphany church from 1969 until his retirement.
Time magazine once wrote about his effort in pioneering dual enrollment, which allowed public school students to spend part of the day studying religion at parochial schools. He also started education programs for retarded children and put parochial schools on a non-graded system that allowed students to work at their own ability levels.
In 1972 Bishop McDowell crafted one of the most important statements on religious education, the United States Bishops' pastoral statement, "To Teach as Jesus Did." When Pope John Paul II visited the U.S. in 1979, he praised the document in a speech to Bishops in San Francisco.
"He said, 'Here, you have said it, now enforce it,'" Bishop McDowell said after the visit. "He put his imprimatur right on it. It almost knocked me out of my chair. It made me feel the work was justified."
Bishop McDowell was also sought after for his financial acumen. Pittsburgh Bishop Donald Wuerl entrusted him with such tasks as eliminating a twenty year diocesan deficit, which he did. But Bishop McDowell also endured the ire of some teachers in the system who complained over the years about low pay.
In addition to his other accomplishments, Bishop McDowell wrote seven biographies on the past Bishops of the Pittsburgh Diocese. He completed his autobiography in 2007.
At 45 years of age, McDowell was appointed Auxiliary of the Diocese of Pittsburgh by Pope Paul VI, receiving his episcopal consecration with the titular see of Tamazuca on September 8, 1966, from Monsignor John Joseph Wright, future Cardinal Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy, assisted by Bishops William Graham Connare and Vincent Martin Leonard.
Throughout his episcopate, McDowell served under five Bishops, two of which would later become Cardinals: John Joseph Wright, Vincent Martin Leonard, Anthony Joseph Bevilacqua, Donald William Wuerl and David Allen Zubik.
Confirming more than 100,000 children, he was able to explain God to them in simple terms, using metaphors and stories. Among the candidates whom he ordained to the priesthood, one finds Cardinal Sean Patrick O'Malley OFM. Cap., Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Baltimore.
In recognition of his service in 1995, a consolidated elementary school in Baldwin Borough was named the Bishop John B. McDowell Regional School, although it has since closed.
The pastor at St. Ursula in Hampton, remembered a homily that the bishop gave to children at a summer camp in the 1950's.
"He asked the children what is the first thing a cow does when it gets up in the morning, and the last thing it does before going to sleep at night," he once recalled. "The answer was, it gets on its knees. And he told them that was what they should do, too."
"The teacher who is not kind does not understand the meaning of teaching," he told 3,000 teachers in 1962.
Bishop David Zubik called him a "Giant of the Church" who was influential at the national level, especially in education, guiding a school system that once boasted 120,000 students.
Bishop McDowell, who retired in 1996, died Thursday, February 25, 2010, at UPMC Passavant. He was 88.
Reception of the body took place at the Epiphany church, Uptown, on the following Tuesday at 1 pm., where visitation was held until the next day, when his body was transferred to St. Paul's Cathedral, where funeral Mass was celebrated on Thursday at 11 am., presided by Bishop Zubik. Committal followed at Calvary Cemetery.
Born in 1921 in New Castle, Bishop McDowell was the son of a railroad worker, Bernard McDowell, and his wife, Louise, who made sure the family knelt together daily to pray the rosary. It was a lesson that took; as an adult Bishop McDowell prayed for two hours every day.
The pastor at his childhood church in Garfield inspired him to become a priest.
"I always thought the priesthood was where I wanted to be," he said in 1991, on the 25th anniversary of his consecration as a Bishop in 1966. "Now I am at the point where I can say it truly is. I've enjoyed every minute of it."
He attended Central Catholic High School and earned a bachelor's degree at St. Vincent College in 1942 and a master's degree there in 1944. He later earned a doctorate in education and philosophy at Catholic University of America.
Because of the demand for priests after the Second World War, Bishop McDowell was ordained six months early on November 4, 1945. After several years at St. Irenaeus Church in Oakmont, he became assistant superintendent of schools in 1952, superintendent in 1955 and vicar for education in 1970. He also served as pastor of Epiphany church from 1969 until his retirement.
Time magazine once wrote about his effort in pioneering dual enrollment, which allowed public school students to spend part of the day studying religion at parochial schools. He also started education programs for retarded children and put parochial schools on a non-graded system that allowed students to work at their own ability levels.
In 1972 Bishop McDowell crafted one of the most important statements on religious education, the United States Bishops' pastoral statement, "To Teach as Jesus Did." When Pope John Paul II visited the U.S. in 1979, he praised the document in a speech to Bishops in San Francisco.
"He said, 'Here, you have said it, now enforce it,'" Bishop McDowell said after the visit. "He put his imprimatur right on it. It almost knocked me out of my chair. It made me feel the work was justified."
Bishop McDowell was also sought after for his financial acumen. Pittsburgh Bishop Donald Wuerl entrusted him with such tasks as eliminating a twenty year diocesan deficit, which he did. But Bishop McDowell also endured the ire of some teachers in the system who complained over the years about low pay.
In addition to his other accomplishments, Bishop McDowell wrote seven biographies on the past Bishops of the Pittsburgh Diocese. He completed his autobiography in 2007.
At 45 years of age, McDowell was appointed Auxiliary of the Diocese of Pittsburgh by Pope Paul VI, receiving his episcopal consecration with the titular see of Tamazuca on September 8, 1966, from Monsignor John Joseph Wright, future Cardinal Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy, assisted by Bishops William Graham Connare and Vincent Martin Leonard.
Throughout his episcopate, McDowell served under five Bishops, two of which would later become Cardinals: John Joseph Wright, Vincent Martin Leonard, Anthony Joseph Bevilacqua, Donald William Wuerl and David Allen Zubik.
Confirming more than 100,000 children, he was able to explain God to them in simple terms, using metaphors and stories. Among the candidates whom he ordained to the priesthood, one finds Cardinal Sean Patrick O'Malley OFM. Cap., Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Baltimore.
In recognition of his service in 1995, a consolidated elementary school in Baldwin Borough was named the Bishop John B. McDowell Regional School, although it has since closed.
The pastor at St. Ursula in Hampton, remembered a homily that the bishop gave to children at a summer camp in the 1950's.
"He asked the children what is the first thing a cow does when it gets up in the morning, and the last thing it does before going to sleep at night," he once recalled. "The answer was, it gets on its knees. And he told them that was what they should do, too."
"The teacher who is not kind does not understand the meaning of teaching," he told 3,000 teachers in 1962.
Bishop David Zubik called him a "Giant of the Church" who was influential at the national level, especially in education, guiding a school system that once boasted 120,000 students.
Bishop McDowell, who retired in 1996, died Thursday, February 25, 2010, at UPMC Passavant. He was 88.
Reception of the body took place at the Epiphany church, Uptown, on the following Tuesday at 1 pm., where visitation was held until the next day, when his body was transferred to St. Paul's Cathedral, where funeral Mass was celebrated on Thursday at 11 am., presided by Bishop Zubik. Committal followed at Calvary Cemetery.
The pastor at his childhood church in Garfield inspired him to become a priest.
"I always thought the priesthood was where I wanted to be," he said in 1991, on the 25th anniversary of his consecration as a Bishop in 1966. "Now I am at the point where I can say it truly is. I've enjoyed every minute of it."
He attended Central Catholic High School and earned a bachelor's degree at St. Vincent College in 1942 and a master's degree there in 1944. He later earned a doctorate in education and philosophy at Catholic University of America.
Because of the demand for priests after the Second World War, Bishop McDowell was ordained six months early on November 4, 1945. After several years at St. Irenaeus Church in Oakmont, he became assistant superintendent of schools in 1952, superintendent in 1955 and vicar for education in 1970. He also served as pastor of Epiphany church from 1969 until his retirement.
Time magazine once wrote about his effort in pioneering dual enrollment, which allowed public school students to spend part of the day studying religion at parochial schools. He also started education programs for retarded children and put parochial schools on a non-graded system that allowed students to work at their own ability levels.
In 1972 Bishop McDowell crafted one of the most important statements on religious education, the United States Bishops' pastoral statement, "To Teach as Jesus Did." When Pope John Paul II visited the U.S. in 1979, he praised the document in a speech to Bishops in San Francisco.
"He said, 'Here, you have said it, now enforce it,'" Bishop McDowell said after the visit. "He put his imprimatur right on it. It almost knocked me out of my chair. It made me feel the work was justified."
Bishop McDowell was also sought after for his financial acumen. Pittsburgh Bishop Donald Wuerl entrusted him with such tasks as eliminating a twenty year diocesan deficit, which he did. But Bishop McDowell also endured the ire of some teachers in the system who complained over the years about low pay.
In addition to his other accomplishments, Bishop McDowell wrote seven biographies on the past Bishops of the Pittsburgh Diocese. He completed his autobiography in 2007.
At 45 years of age, McDowell was appointed Auxiliary of the Diocese of Pittsburgh by Pope Paul VI, receiving his episcopal consecration with the titular see of Tamazuca on September 8, 1966, from Monsignor John Joseph Wright, future Cardinal Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy, assisted by Bishops William Graham Connare and Vincent Martin Leonard.
Throughout his episcopate, McDowell served under five Bishops, two of which would later become Cardinals: John Joseph Wright, Vincent Martin Leonard, Anthony Joseph Bevilacqua, Donald William Wuerl and David Allen Zubik.
Confirming more than 100,000 children, he was able to explain God to them in simple terms, using metaphors and stories. Among the candidates whom he ordained to the priesthood, one finds Cardinal Sean Patrick O'Malley OFM. Cap., Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Baltimore.
In recognition of his service in 1995, a consolidated elementary school in Baldwin Borough was named the Bishop John B. McDowell Regional School, although it has since closed.
The pastor at St. Ursula in Hampton, remembered a homily that the bishop gave to children at a summer camp in the 1950's.
"He asked the children what is the first thing a cow does when it gets up in the morning, and the last thing it does before going to sleep at night," he once recalled. "The answer was, it gets on its knees. And he told them that was what they should do, too."
"The teacher who is not kind does not understand the meaning of teaching," he told 3,000 teachers in 1962.
Bishop David Zubik called him a "Giant of the Church" who was influential at the national level, especially in education, guiding a school system that once boasted 120,000 students.
Bishop McDowell, who retired in 1996, died Thursday, February 25, 2010, at UPMC Passavant. He was 88.
Reception of the body took place at the Epiphany church, Uptown, on the following Tuesday at 1 pm., where visitation was held until the next day, when his body was transferred to St. Paul's Cathedral, where funeral Mass was celebrated on Thursday at 11 am., presided by Bishop Zubik. Committal followed at Calvary Cemetery.
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