Dowling was the oldest of five children in an Irish Catholic family in St. Louis. His paternal grandfather emigrated from Ireland in the mid-1800s and opened a railroad construction company, which his father also managed. Both his father and mother, Anastasia Cullinane, were very religious. Dowling was sent to Holy Name School before attending St. Louis University High School. He then attended St. Mary's College in Kansas, and played baseball semi-professionally as well as in school. He tried out for both the St. Louis Browns and the Boston Red Sox, but was picked up by neither. Dowling initially studied journalism; he reported for the St. Louis Globe-Democrat for a year before joining the U.S. Army in World War I, and studied for a year at Medill School of Journalism at Northwest University.[1]
In 1919, Dowling entered St. Stanislaus Seminary. However, he struggled with his spirituality, and left the seminary to study philosophy in St. Louis. After three years, Dowling went to Chicago to teach at Loyola Academy. He then returned to St. Mary's College to study theology for three years, and Father Dowling was ordained in 1931; he was assigned to the Sodality of Our Lady the following year, and took his final vows in 1936.[2] While there, Dowling served as the editor of the sodality's magazine, The Queen's Work. He held this position and lived in the society until his death in 1960.[3][4]
Dowling also had training as a genealogist, and was an advocate of civil rights. In 1957, the 100th anniversary of the Dred Scott court case, Dowling led an effort to locate Scott's previously unmarked grave. Dowling raised funds for a modest headstone, saying, "[I]f someone some day wants to put up a better monument it will at least be known where Dred Scott lies."[5]
Alcoholics Anonymous
Father Ed Dowling circa 1928
During the early years of Alcoholics Anonymous, a friend of Dowling's from Chicago developed a drinking problem after losing his wife, and in 1940, Dowling took him to an AA meeting. There, he noticed the similarities between the program's twelve-step program and the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola.[3] Dowling then met with AA co-founder Bill W. by arriving at his door unannounced late in the evening. Following this introduction, Bill and Father Dowling (or Father Ed, as he was known within the community) became close friends, and Dowling served as Bill's spiritual advisor. He continued directing struggling alcoholics to the organization, and by the summer of 1940, with his help, Dowling's native St. Louis had its own AA chapter.[2] Dowling was not an alcoholic himself, but used the twelve-step program to get over his own problems of overeating and smoking.[3]
Other organizations
Dowling was inspired by AA's twelve-step program, noting the similarity to his order's Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, and formed and supported several similar programs. By 1944 he had founded the Cana Conferences[4] (some sources say 1942[6]), a marriage enrichment program for struggling Catholic couples that implements the twelve steps. The name CANA stands for Couples Are Not Alone, and also references the biblical story of the wedding at Cana, at which Jesus turned water into wine.
Dowling worked with Recovery, Inc. (now Recovery International), bringing the organization to St. Louis just as he had with AA. He did the same for Divorcees Anonymous, a group for those struggling with failed marriages, and a Montserrat group for those with moral dilemmas.[1]
In popular culture
Dowling was portrayed by Norman Shultz in the 2012 Emmy-winning documentary Bill W.[7]
References
^ abFitzgerald, Robert (2011). The Soul of Sponsorship: The Friendship of Fr. Edward Dowling, S.J. and Bill Wilson in Letters. Hazelden. ISBN9781616491239.
^ ab"Father Ed Dowling — Bill W.'s Confidant and Friend" (PDF). Box 4-5-9. New York: Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. 2006. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
^ abcKing, Heather. "Father Edward Dowling, S.J." Catholic Education Resource Center. Magnificat. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
^ abTieman, John Samuel (1995). "The Origins of Twelve-Step Spirituality: Bill W. and Edward Dowling, S. J.". U.S. Catholic Historian. 13 (3): 121–135. ISSN 0735-8318. JSTOR 25154517.
^"Dred Scott Centennial". St. Louis Globe-Democrat. St. Louis. 10 February 1957. p. 51. Retrieved 12 May 2020 – via Newspapers.com. Father Dowling is giving much attention to the subject. The other day he said: "Right now it is a modest effort. We have in mind putting up only a simple monument with what money we can raise, costing maybe only $75 or $100. Then if someone some day wants to put up a better monument it will at least be known where Dred Scott lies."
^Fitzgerald, Robert (1991). "Father Ed Dowling and AA's Bill W." Catholic Digest. New London: Bayard. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
edward, dowling, priest, edward, dowling, also, known, father, jesuit, priest, spiritual, advisor, bill, founder, alcoholics, anonymous, edward, dowlingsjborn, 1898, september, 1898st, louis, missouridiedapril, 1960, 1960, aged, memphis, tennesseeresting, plac. Edward Dowling SJ also known as Father Ed was a Jesuit priest and spiritual advisor to Bill W co founder of Alcoholics Anonymous The Rev Edward DowlingSJBorn 1898 09 01 September 1 1898St Louis MissouriDiedApril 3 1960 1960 04 03 aged 61 Memphis TennesseeResting placeSt Louis MissouriNationalityAmericanOccupationJesuit priestKnown forspiritual advisor of Bill W and sponsor of Alcoholics Anonymous Contents 1 Biography 2 Alcoholics Anonymous 3 Other organizations 4 In popular culture 5 ReferencesBiography EditDowling was the oldest of five children in an Irish Catholic family in St Louis His paternal grandfather emigrated from Ireland in the mid 1800s and opened a railroad construction company which his father also managed Both his father and mother Anastasia Cullinane were very religious Dowling was sent to Holy Name School before attending St Louis University High School He then attended St Mary s College in Kansas and played baseball semi professionally as well as in school He tried out for both the St Louis Browns and the Boston Red Sox but was picked up by neither Dowling initially studied journalism he reported for the St Louis Globe Democrat for a year before joining the U S Army in World War I and studied for a year at Medill School of Journalism at Northwest University 1 In 1919 Dowling entered St Stanislaus Seminary However he struggled with his spirituality and left the seminary to study philosophy in St Louis After three years Dowling went to Chicago to teach at Loyola Academy He then returned to St Mary s College to study theology for three years and Father Dowling was ordained in 1931 he was assigned to the Sodality of Our Lady the following year and took his final vows in 1936 2 While there Dowling served as the editor of the sodality s magazine The Queen s Work He held this position and lived in the society until his death in 1960 3 4 Dowling also had training as a genealogist and was an advocate of civil rights In 1957 the 100th anniversary of the Dred Scott court case Dowling led an effort to locate Scott s previously unmarked grave Dowling raised funds for a modest headstone saying I f someone some day wants to put up a better monument it will at least be known where Dred Scott lies 5 Alcoholics Anonymous Edit Father Ed Dowling circa 1928 During the early years of Alcoholics Anonymous a friend of Dowling s from Chicago developed a drinking problem after losing his wife and in 1940 Dowling took him to an AA meeting There he noticed the similarities between the program s twelve step program and the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola 3 Dowling then met with AA co founder Bill W by arriving at his door unannounced late in the evening Following this introduction Bill and Father Dowling or Father Ed as he was known within the community became close friends and Dowling served as Bill s spiritual advisor He continued directing struggling alcoholics to the organization and by the summer of 1940 with his help Dowling s native St Louis had its own AA chapter 2 Dowling was not an alcoholic himself but used the twelve step program to get over his own problems of overeating and smoking 3 Other organizations EditDowling was inspired by AA s twelve step program noting the similarity to his order s Spiritual Exercises of St Ignatius and formed and supported several similar programs By 1944 he had founded the Cana Conferences 4 some sources say 1942 6 a marriage enrichment program for struggling Catholic couples that implements the twelve steps The name CANA stands for Couples Are Not Alone and also references the biblical story of the wedding at Cana at which Jesus turned water into wine Dowling worked with Recovery Inc now Recovery International bringing the organization to St Louis just as he had with AA He did the same for Divorcees Anonymous a group for those struggling with failed marriages and a Montserrat group for those with moral dilemmas 1 In popular culture EditDowling was portrayed by Norman Shultz in the 2012 Emmy winning documentary Bill W 7 References Edit a b Fitzgerald Robert 2011 The Soul of Sponsorship The Friendship of Fr Edward Dowling S J and Bill Wilson in Letters Hazelden ISBN 9781616491239 a b Father Ed Dowling Bill W s Confidant and Friend PDF Box 4 5 9 New York Alcoholics Anonymous World Services Inc 2006 Retrieved 11 May 2020 a b c King Heather Father Edward Dowling S J Catholic Education Resource Center Magnificat Retrieved 11 May 2020 a b Tieman John Samuel 1995 The Origins of Twelve Step Spirituality Bill W and Edward Dowling S J U S Catholic Historian 13 3 121 135 ISSN 0735 8318 JSTOR 25154517 Dred Scott Centennial St Louis Globe Democrat St Louis 10 February 1957 p 51 Retrieved 12 May 2020 via Newspapers com Father Dowling is giving much attention to the subject The other day he said Right now it is a modest effort We have in mind putting up only a simple monument with what money we can raise costing maybe only 75 or 100 Then if someone some day wants to put up a better monument it will at least be known where Dred Scott lies Fitzgerald Robert 1991 Father Ed Dowling and AA s Bill W Catholic Digest New London Bayard Retrieved 12 May 2020 Bill W IMDb Retrieved 12 May 2020 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Edward Dowling priest amp oldid 1090971618, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
