November 5, 2024 – Father Richard W. McGowan, SJ, died Nov. 3, 2024, in Florissant, Missouri. He was 94 years old, a Jesuit for 78 years and a priest for 64 years.
Recalled by his Jesuit brothers as a good companion and good Jesuit, Fr. McGowan’s funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m., on Saturday, Nov. 9, at St. Ignatius Hall at Garden Villas North in Florissant, Missouri, with visitation beginning at 10:30. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery on Monday, Nov. 11 at 10:00 a.m. The funeral Mass will be livestreamed at https://bit.ly/McGowan-funeral.
Born Dec. 3, 1929, in Jamaica, New York, he was one of six children of Francis E. and Lucille Littlejohn McGowan. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers Joseph, Francis and John, and his sisters Kathleen Johnson and Lucille DeLage. He is survived by his sister-in-law Sandy McGowan and by nephews and nieces.
After graduating from Jesuit High School of Dallas in 1946, he entered the Society of Jesus that August at St. Charles College in Grand Coteau, Louisiana. He pronounced first vows in the Society on Aug. 15, 1948, and was ordained a priest on June 15, 1960, at Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama. He professed final vows on Sept. 8, 1966, at Immaculate Conception Church in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Father McGowan began his Jesuit ministry as a regent at St. John High School in Shreveport, Louisiana. After three years, he was assigned to his alma mater in Dallas, to which he returned in 1961 following his ordination. In 1964, he became assistant pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish, Albuquerque, where he remained for four years. He then had several short-term assignments at parishes while pursuing his clinical pastoral education (CPE).
In 1975, he returned to Dallas Jesuit to serve first as a counselor, then as director of guidance, and finally as director of senior community service. In 1980, he became chaplain at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas. He returned to parish work in 1985 and over the next 12 years, served as pastor or administrator at St. John’s Church in Ennis, Texas; Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Decatur, Texas; and Sacred Heart Church in Tampa, Florida. In 1998, he was assigned again to Immaculate Conception Parish in Albuquerque, where he remained until 2019.
Father McGowan earned a bachelor’s degree in Latin at Spring Hill College and a bachelor’s degree in theology at St. Mary’s College in St. Marys, Kansas.
Father McGowan began a ministry of prayer at St. Charles College in Grand Coteau, and moved to St. Ignatius Hall in St. Louis in 2023.
We remember with gratitude all that God has done through his life of service to God and God’s people.
Memorial gifts may be made to the USA Central and Southern Province of the Society of Jesus at 4511 West Pine Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63108 or through this site. He asked that gifts be designated for the formation of Jesuits.
