Story by Mary Stadnyk, Associate Editor

Susan McManus-Dowiak is being lovingly remembered by colleagues, friends and faithful from her parish community and throughout the Diocese of Trenton as one who “used her God-given talents to serve the Church.”

Mrs. Dowiak, who served for some 30 years as youth minister in Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish, Moorestown, died May 19 following a lengthy illness. She was 66. Her funeral Mass was celebrated May 24 in Our Lady of Good Counsel Church with Father Damian McElroy, pastor, as principal celebrant.

“Sue Dowiak spent a life-time ministering to the youth of OLGC…She believed in the youth when others were ready to dismiss them, she recognized their hope, their desire to serve and make a difference,” said Father McElroy following Mrs. Dowiak’s death.

She also served as a cantor, catechist, extraordinary minister of Holy Communion and substitute teacher in the parish school. Because she had a passion for helping others, she also began a “toiletry ministry” in which she and youth group members would assemble bags of toiletries for those in need.

Addressing personal hygiene issues is a “basic thing others might overlook,” said Father McElroy, noting that the toiletries were donated to agencies such as Catholic Charities, Covenant House and the St. Vincent de Paul Society for distribution.

“But Sue didn’t overlook it. As a result, a generation of our brothers and sisters recovered a little more of their dignity” through the toiletry ministry, he said, noting that the ministry has since been renamed to the Susan Ministry in her memory.

Born in 1950, Mrs. Dowiak earned a bachelor’s degree in education from Trenton State College, Ewing, after which she pursued a career in teaching. She taught elementary school on both a full and part-time basis in northern New Jersey, Dallas, Tex., and Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish.

Having worked with her for 30 years, Dr. Linda Dix, OLGC director of religious education, witnessed how Mrs. Dowiak always made it a priority to involve the parish teens “in all areas of parish life.” One way she did so was by forming youth leadership teams to interact with eighth graders of the parish, Dr. Dix said. An example of that effort was seen in November when the youth group held an interactive forum on the Gifts of the Holy Spirit for the eighth graders preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation.

“She was dedicated to youth ministry and her faithful presence to youth ministry made the difference in our parish,” Dr. Dix said.

Dr. Dix noted how Mrs. Dowiak’s “expertise was rendered to the Diocese many times over,” and she sat on the diocesan planning board for many youth-related events. Her youth ministry work garnered the respect of fellow parish youth ministers and diocesan personnel. 

Matt Greeley, former director of the diocesan Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, fondly recalled Mrs. Dowiak’s receiving the office’s first SOLE Award for Excellence in 2009. The award was a way to recognize youth ministers “who are often unsung heroes” for their work, he said, then noted that the award name, SOLE, reflected how a youth minister “walked with the youth” on their faith journeys. Greeley added how Mrs. Dowiak always encouraged her youth group members to participate in Realfaith TV, the diocesan television program that focuses on subjects of interest to youth and attend the annual March for Life held each January in Washington, D.C., among other events.

“Sue Dowiak shined as a person who empowered youth and engaged them where they found themselves on their journey of faith,” said Greeley, who is now associate director of the diocesan Office of Communications and Media. “She was kind and solid, someone I counted on often as we worked to foster the faith among the youth of the Diocese.”

Fran Koukotas, who served with Greeley in the Youth and Young Adult Ministry Office as event coordinator, remembered Mrs. Dowiak being “one of the most dedicated youth ministers that the Diocese has ever had.”

“She was amazing…she worked hard,” said Koukotas, who now works now as diocesan director of the New Jersey Network of Catholic School Families.

Having first met Mrs. Dowiak in the mid-1990s through the diocesan youth ministry certificate program, Mercy Sister Donna D’Alia, also a former Youth and Young Adult Ministry director, recalled at the time, Mrs. Dowiak was expecting her youngest child. “Although Sue had a glow about her, I later learned was not just because of her pregnancy.”

“She possessed this inner light and joy that pervaded her whole life,” said Sister Donna, current director of religious education in St. Rose Parish, Belmar. “That light was the Light of Christ...Sue let Christ shine, she let Christ use her to reach the young people…. She was a truly holy woman among us, a role model for youth and youth ministers and a light for all of us to continue to emulate.”

Mrs. Dowiak is survived by her husband, Daniel and children Jennifer (James); Jason; Joshua (Valentina), and Jacob; one grandson, Jimmy; three siblings and their spouses and numerous nieces and nephews.

Burial was in Jesus, Bread of Life Cemetery, Mount Laurel. Memorial donations may be made to Our Lady of Good Counsel Youth Group, 42 West Main St., Moorestown, N.J. 08057.