Top photo: Redemptorist Father John Gerard McGowan
Redemptorist Father John Gerard McGowan, who ministered in San Alfonso Retreat House, Long Branch, for nearly 30 years, died Sept. 18 in St. John Neumann Residence, Timonium, Md.
Funeral services will begin Sept. 22 with a wake and visitation taking place from 4-8 p.m. in San Alfonso Retreat House, 755 Ocean Ave., Long Branch. Visitation will continue Sept. 23 from 9-9:45 a.m. in San Alfonso and will be followed by a 10:30 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial in St. Michael Church, 800 Ocean Ave., Long Branch. The Mass will be livestreamed from the website of Woolley-Boglioli Funeral Homes at www.wbhfh.com.
Father McGowan was born in 1936 in Brooklyn to John and Marie (McDevitt) McGowan. He entered St. Mary’s, the Redemptorist high school seminary in North East, Pa.; made his novitiate in St. Mary’s, Ilchester, Md., and professed his vows as a Redemptorist Aug. 2, 1957.
He completed his theological studies in Mount St. Alphonsus Seminary, Esopus, N.Y., and was ordained June 17, 1962. After completing a master’s degree in sociology in The Catholic University of America, Washington, he taught sociology, civics and religion in St. Mary Seminary until 1980. In addition to teaching, he was director of students and collaborated with other Redemptorists on the staff, directing numerous plays and musicals.
Father McGowan’s parish work began in 1980, when he was first named parochial vicar of his home parish, the Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Brooklyn, N.Y., before being named pastor and serving from 1984 to1990. Other parishes where he was pastor include St. Peter the Apostle/National Shrine of St. John Neumann, Philadelphia, until 1996, when he was assigned to San Alfonso Retreat House.
In San Alfonso, he was director of the retreat house and a member of the preaching staff until 2024, when he moved to St. Clement Mission House, Ephrata, Pa. He also served as a member of the Extraordinary Provincial Council from 1984-1999.
Other highlights of Father McGowan’s ministry included preaching at more than 100 parish missions. He was also a longtime columnist for The Monitor, the Trenton Diocese’s newspaper, and authored two books, Sidewalks, Sacristies, and Sinners and Once Upon a Parish. He also contributed regularly to the Brooklyn basilica’s Monthly Messenger, and in the past two years he wrote a monthly reflection titled “Ephrata Echo.”
Father McGowan will be buried in Resurrection Cemetery, Staten Island, N.Y. Memorial donations may be made to San Alfonso Retreat House, 755 Ocean Ave., Long Branch, N.J.