Remembering Father John Gerard McGowan, longtime San Alfonso Retreat House staff member

Redemptorist Father John Gerard McGowan, who served at the San Alfonso Retreat House in Long Branch for nearly 30 years, died Sept. 18 at the St. John Neumann Residence in Timonium.

Funeral services begin Sept. 22 with a wake and visitation from 4 to 8 p.m. at the San Alfonso Retreat House. Visitation continues Sept. 23 from 9 to 9:45 a.m. at the retreat house, followed by a 10:30 a.m. Mass of Christian Burial at St. Michael Church in Long Branch. The Mass will be livestreamed on the Woolley-Boglioli Funeral Homes website.

Born in 1936 in Brooklyn, Father McGowan was ordained June 17, 1962, after studying at Mount St. Alphonsus Seminary in Esopus, N.Y. He earned a master’s degree in sociology from The Catholic University of America and taught sociology, civics, and religion at St. Mary Seminary until 1980. During his time there, he also served as director of students and directed various plays and musicals. His parish ministry included serving as parochial vicar and later pastor at the Basilica of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Brooklyn.