Fr Michael O'Dowd RIP

Fr Michael O'Dowd

Fr Michael O'Dowd died on 29 March 2023.

Michael was born in Liverpool on 17th August 1946 to Patrick and Mary O'Dowd. In his family were Catherine, his sister, and Peter, his brother. Michael was baptised and made his first Communion in St Francis de Sales Church, Walton.

He started school there but finished his primary education in St Matthew's, Clubmoor, where he was also part of their altar boy team under the supervision of Miss Turner. When he was confirmed he took the name Edward. Passing the scholarship, he became a pupil in St Edward's, West Derby. After a year he enrolled into Upholland College.

During the summer holidays he helped with the St Francis de Sales' scout trips and later worked as an auxiliary nurse at Newsham Hospital on the geriatric wards. His father also managed to get him a job at the Liverpool Museum helping to restore a steam engine.

Michael was ordained priest in the Metropolitan Cathedral on 5th June 1971 and celebrated his First Mass in St Aloysius' Church in Roby. After ordination, Michael was sent to Rome for two years for further study with an extra two years in St John's College, Oxford.

In September 1975, Michael joined the formation staff at Ushaw College, Durham, to teach moral theology. He was also assistant procurator which meant that he chose and bought the wine for college feasts. He had further periods of study in the 1980s in Rome, Birmingham and San Francisco. He was a member of the Association of Teachers of Moral Theology and was their long-time secretary. He served as a Medical Ethics Advisor/Consultant to a couple of Hospital Trusts.

During college holidays, Michael supplied in different parishes in the North-East and the Cotswolds.

In 1993, after 18 years teaching in the seminary, Michael took up a new appointment as Parish Priest of St Agnes', Eccleston, Chorley.

In October 1997, Archbishop Patrick asked him to take on the role of Episcopal Vicar for Education, a role he held until August 2019. At this point he became a member of the Archbishop's Council and a Trustee of the Archdiocese. Later on, he asked him to represent the Archdiocese in the Apostleship of the Sea and this he did for many years. He was a member of the board of Governors at Liverpool Hope University for a number of years.

In 2021, Michael celebrated 50 years as a priest. It was only September last year that Michael submitted his resignation as parish priest due to his declining health though he remained in the presbytery.

The last six months of Michael's life were dominated by hospital appointments, various forms of treatment and worsening health. He was incredibly courageous in dealing with the effects of the cancer and was very grateful for the care shown him by his GP and the staff in St Catherine's Hospice where he spent the last month of his life. Michael died very peacefully on the afternoon of 29th March in the company of family and friends.

Funeral details:

Vigil Service on Thursday 20th April at 7pm in St Agnes' Church, The Green, Eccleston, Chorley PR7 5PH
Funeral Mass on Friday 21st April in St Mary's Church, Broadfield Walk, Leyland Pr25 1PD

Reflections on Fr Michael

From his time at Ushaw:

When he began teaching at Ushaw Michael was tasked, among other things, with teaching various aspects of Moral Theology (Catholic Christian Ethics) which we, newly-minted graduates, had not dealt with in our three years of study at Durham University. This was our Diaconate Year and whilst our contemporaries had completed their academic studies, we still had studies to do alongside the Pastoral Theology sessions and parish placements. Not the most eager of students in this situation, Michael presided over seminars that were both engaging and thought-provoking. He was a very good, patient and challenging teacher. A few years later, on returning to Ushaw to teach Theology, I also found in Michael a very helpful and supportive colleague. His wise and insightful contributions in staff meetings were always much valued by others. Beyond his teaching commitments he was, for many years, a member of the Medical Ethics Committee for the Newcastle hospitals, and a regular participant in the meetings of Moral Theologians from Britain, Ireland and the Low Countries.

Fr Sean Hall

I first met Michael in September 1975 when we had both gone to Ushaw and I was taught Moral Theology by him. When I went back on the staff we became friends. Michael was always a very private person and I don't think he would want a lot of fuss made but sometimes it's right to make a fuss. He was a voracious reader (though he once said that he thought 'it went in one eye and out the other!') He always wore his learning lightly. He had a wide interest from novels, cookery, art and, of course, moral theology especially in the area of medical ethics. He had a very keen sense of humour. Michael would always give sound advice whenever he was consulted. He was a good cook and I am already missing the meals that we shared together over the many years we knew each other.

Fr John Aveyard

From his time as Parish Priest:

Parishioners of St Agnes describe Father Michael as a kind, welcoming and caring man, compassionate and loving, a gentle gentleman. His parish, our parish, became thoroughly inclusive with a family atmosphere and a real sense of belonging. Worship, led by him, was dignified and reverent, realistic and accessible. We benefited constantly from his wonderful mind, through his knowledge and interpretation of scripture, through his adult, thought-out moral outlook, through his attitude shaped in the truest devotion to Christian values, and relentless research and study. He was a true lifelong learner, always searching, always thinking.

Though somewhat private and introspective, his reflections led to inspiring, faith-enhancing homilies week in, week out, and we all felt blessed to have access to his wisdom and insight. We think of him as a holy man, a devout man.

And he was always accessible, generous with his time and support. He was compassionate and giving, empathetic and prayerful, and helped many people through the most difficult times of our lives, knowing just how to be, what to say (or not say) and how to pray in ways befitting the moment and context. Fr Michael possessed a wisdom that was understated, was never boastful and always patient. He also knew how and when to chuckle and twinkle with amusement. Not everything was serious all the time!

We feel greatly privileged to have known him and shared his great faith. His time at St Agnes has been faith and life enriching and we thank him sincerely.
via Eileen Howard

Friend, Parish Priest - and everything in between for over 40 years. Michael the moral theologian with a mind as sharp and incisive as any scalpel. Michael had the gift of identifying the strengths in a person very quickly. He was always a "First Responder" to anyone in a crisis, or if they just needed picking up. Always there to meet and greet at the door - ready to hear or share any big news of the week. His homilies were as thoroughly prepared and crafted as any Reith Lecture, always, always pointing to the mercy and magnificent love of God. He was a priest who really cared that the merciful love of the Father was freely available and given - witness the Services of Reconciliation in Lent and Advent in Saint Agnes. Friend/Pastor, both one in our Friend Michael.
Florence Walsh

From his time as Episcopal Vicar for Education:

For two decades Fr Michael inspired and mentored three directors, gently ensuring there were few, if any, possible management misjudgements that might impact unjustifiably on the broader life of Church. Ever insightful, he delivered the Archdiocesan Trustees' wishes to bring to reality their predecessors' policy of creating, where most needed and desired, a number of Joint Catholic & Anglican High Schools and Primary Schools. That a significant percentage of them were in areas with a most regrettable sectarian past is both a remarkable achievement and a lasting legacy to Fr Michael's astute thinking and abiding sense of Christianity in action.
He also played a significant role in Catholic Education nationally during this time, participating in the National Conferences of the Catholic Education Service for Diocesan Schools Commissioners (DSCs). He was elected to the DSC Executive Committee at the Spring Conference of 2003 and was elected its Chairman. He continued in that role until March 2015.

As an agency of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England & Wales, the Catholic Education Service (CES) has a pivotal role in guiding and supporting Catholic schools and colleges. Over many years Fr Michael played an outstanding part as a member of its management committee, often leading its debates on emergent government policy, always enlightening discussion with insightful comments, founded in extensive knowledge, wisdom and expertise, ever quietly and discreetly bringing newer members to a reflective and wise judgement.

Fr Michael's profound knowledge, appreciation and compassion as a moral theologian, together with his inherent sense of justice and charity formed a solid and enduring foundation on which he could consider many social and personal lifestyle challenges that confronted Catholic school leaders, their staff and the families they served. F or that, there are many officers and school leaders whose lives he touched, who hold him in the deepest respect and love and are forever indebted to him for his courage.
Frank Cogley, former Director of Education
Tim Warren, former Director of Education

From his time with the Apostleship of the Sea:

At the request of Archbishop Patrick, Fr Michael was requested to represent the interest of the Archdiocese in the negotiation with The Mersey Mission to Seafarers to create a new Seafarer Centre in Liverpool, bringing two Christian organisations together as one. During his tenure as Chairman of the Board, Fr Michael was adamant that the vision of an ecumenical partnership was a success. There were challenges which the Board addressed being guided by Fr Michael who was able to draw upon his board experiences from his time at Hope University a partnership agreement.

Liverpool Seafarers Centre goes from strength to strength. In 2019, it was awarded the World's best Seafarers Centre as nominated and voted by Seafarers, furthermore, recognised as a centre of excellence winning awards "Positive Impact" and "Diversity and Inclusion."
Fr Michael until his resignation ensured that firm foundations were in place to enable to the continuance of the centre as a going concern with a strong emphasis upon its Christian ethos. Fr Michael's memory will live on in the knowledge that what started as a vision is today a reality.

Lawrence Aye Maung, Liverpool Seafarers Centre