Rev. Michael Bowler served at St. Turibius, St. Thomas More

From staff reports

The Rev. Michael J. Bowler, former associate pastor of St. Turibius Parish, died June 29. He was 90 years old.

The Rev. Michael J. Bowler

Father Bowler was born on Feb. 1, 1931 in Chicago. He attended Quigley Preparatory Seminary and the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein.

He was ordained to the priesthood on May 3, 1957 by Cardinal Samuel Stritch and celebrated his first solemn Mass on May 12 of the same year at St. Genevieve Parish in Chicago.

After ordination, Father Bowler served as assistant pastor at these parishes: St. Thomas More, Resurrection, Visitation and St. Eugene.

He served as associate pastor at St. Bernardine, St. Cornelius, St. Mary of Perpetual Help and St. Turibius. He served at St. Turibius from 1993 until his retirement in 2001.

The Rev. William J. Finnegan, pastor emeritus of Our Lady of the Woods, remembered his classmate as a dedicated parish priest with a good sense of humor who enjoyed spending time with the people of God.

The Rev. Bartholomew J. Juncer, pastor of St. Odilo Parish in Berwyn, was a good friend of Father Bowler.

“He was very dedicated as a priest to the people of God,” Father Juncer said. “Even in his 80s he would visit people in hospitals, visit the sick to bring communion and to anoint them, he would come to church to celebrate Mass.”

Services were July 9 at a Mass celebrated by Cardinal Blase Cupich (with Father Juncer as homilist) at St. Mary of Perpetual Help Church. Interment was at All Saints Cemetery in Des Plaines. Arrangements were by Pomierski Funeral Home.