The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1919-02-08
OUR NEW ARCHBISHOP

come, but also of the sincerest and
most thorough cooperation on the part
of priests and people alike.
Born in New York.
! Right Reverend Austin Bowling was
born in New York City, April 6, 1868.
A part of his youth was passed in
| Newport, r. l., where he attended the
! Academy of the Sisters of Mercy. He
later attended Manhattan College,
| New York, conducted by the Chris
tian Brothers. His studies in philoso-
| ply and theology were made at st.
Johns Seminary, Brighton, Mass. He
was ordained to the priesthood at the
| Cathedral of SIS. Peter and Paul in
| Providence, R. L., on June "a, 1891, by
Right Reverend Bishop Harkins. He
then spent several years at the Catho-
| lie University in Washington, D. c., in
post graduate work where he attracted
attention by his remarkable talents
and his amiability Of character
He was located at Sacred Heart
! parish, East Providence, for two
years, and then became instructor in
Church History at ST. Johns Semi
! nary, Brighton, for four years. He
was then editor of the Providence
] Visitor, the diocesan weekly, remain
! ing in that position for two years.
| In reference to this part of his ca
reer a writer in the Visitor says:
During the two years he was editor
of the Visitor, the paper was greatly
| improved, and took it's place among
the leading Catholic weeklies of the
| United States. His writings were
quoted by editors all over the coun-
| try, who recognized their superior
worth. Bishop DOwling's writings
were characterized by clearness of
style, depth Of thought and dash of
humor that easily charmed the reader
! and endeared him to men of letters"
Upon his retirement from the edi-
torship of The Visitor, Bishop Dow
ling received the appointment of as
sistant pastor at Saint Joseph's
Church, Providence, where he spent
| five years, going thence to ST. Mary's
Church, Warren, r. l., in 1904, as
| pastor. Finally he was transferred to
the Cathedral Of SIS. Peter and Paul,
| Providence, June %, 1905. On Jan
uary 81, 1912, he was appointed first
Z, Bishop of Des Moines, Ia, where he
| has remained to the present. He has
! a sister who is a Sister OF Mercy.
Bishop Bowling stands high as a
| &c to
| thority on Church History, one of his
| works in this line being history of
| the Diocese of Providence. To citi-
zens Of st. Paul who have heard of
the virtues and the attainments of
our new Archbishop, but have not as
yet become acquainted with him, it
would appear that we have many rea-
sons for self-congratulation and re-
| joicing.
| The ceremonies attending his in
stallation as Bishop of Des Moines
are said to have been by far the most
elaborate ever witnessed in that city.
Not long after his arrival a spacious
home was bought and presented to the
Diocese as residence for the Bishop.
Bishop Dowling's particular leaning
towards education found expression in
the purchase and establishment Of the
| Des MOineS Catholic College This
institution was formerly owned by
the Iowa Baptists. The Bishop raised
100000 for this college, which will
always remain a monument to him in
that city. 1t was opened last Septem-
Der. Since the appointment of Bishop
Bowling to Des Moines, new parishes
and churches were erected under his
jurisdiction. The Bishop also brought
about the formation of the Catholic
Women's League to do charitable and
educational work.