Blessed are those who have died in the Lord;
let them rest from their labors,
for their good deeds go with them.
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Father James Dowd
Dec. 9, 1930 - February 3, 2021
Father James Dowd was born Dec. 9, 1930 to James Dowd and Kate Farrelly in Ballyhaise, County Cavan, Ireland.
He was raised on a dairy farm with his brothers Paddy and Paul, who have preceded him in death.
He was ordained June 17, 1956 at All Hollows Seminary in Dublin, Ireland.
Following ordination, he came to the United States by boat with Father Joe Black, who has also preceded him in death.
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Father Dowd was a pioneer
in small church communities
Father Dowd, though he kept to himself at times, could be outspoken. In 1978, he urged other pastors to be more inclusive of those in irregular marriages. “Let’s quit judging people,” he told the Sentinel. In 1982, he voted against term limits for pastors. “I think it stinks,” he told the paper. “The role of a pastor isn’t like that of a businessman. A pastor has to have some sense of stability — he has to know he’ll be around for a while.” He also questioned the wisdom of merging parish schools into area schools, fearing division.
The people appreciated his efforts as a pastor. In 1983, Minnie Coon of Canby wrote to the Sentinel to laud his outreach to inactive Catholics and non-Catholics. “He even has put out cards for us to sign names of our fallen away Catholic friends, so someone may call on them,” Coon wrote.
In 1985, he helped begin the Oktoberfest at St. Mark Parish in Eugene, hoping to perk up an area suffering from the diminished timber industry. It became a major civic event. In 1986, Eugene Catholic Bill Kunkel called the priest a “no-monkey-business promoter” of the festival.
Father Dowd frequently presided at Masses in Cottage Grove for the charismatic community. He also led workshops on spirituality and marriage and was a pioneer in small church communities, advertising on local radio and print to invite new members.
In the mid-90s, he saw that many newcomers to the Cottage Grove and Creswell area were Hispanic Catholics. So he learned Spanish, afraid the Catholic Church would lose people without worship in the language.
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Father Dowd was the assistant pastor at St. James, McMinnville; St. Agnes, Springfield; Assumption, Portland; and St. Francis, Portland.
In 1968, he was appointed pastor of St. Patrick in Canby where he served until 1983. He served St. Mark, Eugene until 1988 when he was transferred to Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Cottage.
He was chaplain at Serenity Lane, Eugene from 1981 to 1987.
He retired in 2003, but continued to say Sunday Masses at St. Michael, Oakridge and St. Henry, Dexter.
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Father Dowd enjoyed golfing, gardening, fishing and playing cards.
He is survived by his sister-in-law Maddie, who still lives on the farm.
He's also has 11 nieces and nephews: Seamus, Paul, Paddy, Oliver, Kathleen, Margaret, Mary, Rose, Bernadette, Helena and Susan.
He has 27 great nieces and nephews.
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Richard Rohr's Daily Meditation
Loving God, you fill all things with a fullness and hope that we can never comprehend.
Thank you for leading us into a time where more of reality is being unveiled for us all to see. We pray that you will take away our natural temptation for cynicism, denial, fear and despair.
Help us have the courage to awaken to greater truth, greater humility, and greater care for one another. May we place our hope in what matters and what lasts, trusting in your eternal presence and love.
Listen to our hearts’ longings for the healing of our suffering world. Please add your own intentions . . . Knowing, good God, you are hearing us better than we are speaking, we offer these prayers in all the holy names of God. Amen.
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At St. Patrick
Father Dowd built a rectory, enlarged the church and added on to the parish center.
He started the celebration of Oktoberfest at St. Mark, in Eugene.
Through his many classes, he brought many people to know God and join the Church as well as increasing the faith of those who were already members.
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Father Dowd retired in 2003 but continued to say Sunday Masses at St. Michael, Oakridge |
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