{"id":27268,"date":"2013-08-12T20:48:41","date_gmt":"2013-08-13T00:48:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/watchwomanonthewall\/?p=27268"},"modified":"2013-08-12T20:48:41","modified_gmt":"2013-08-13T00:48:41","slug":"identified-mystery-priest-showed-up-at-a-crash-scene-then-vanished","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/watchwomanonthewall\/2013\/08\/identified-mystery-priest-showed-up-at-a-crash-scene-then-vanished.html","title":{"rendered":"Identified – Mystery Priest Showed Up at a Crash Scene, then Vanished"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0Please read Calvin’s Commentary at the end, a brief Biblical explanation of the difference between angels and humans.
\n~&~&~&~&~&~&~&~&~&~&<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong>~ <\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Mystery Priest Who Showed Up at a Crash Scene Then Vanished Has Been Identified \u2014 and Here\u2019s the Unlikely Way He Came Forward<\/h1>\n

While some had hoped for supernatural intervention, it seems an entirely human conclusion has come to fruition. Still, the faithful would argue that God\u2019s hand was in this gesture, regardless of the channel that was used to help usher in calm at the scene.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

The mystery priest who recently showed up<\/a> at a crash site, anointed a victim and then vanished has been identified \u2014 and he came forward by posting his identity in the comments section of a Catholic news site. The story began on Aug. 4, after Aaron Smith, 26, struck Katie Lentz, 19, in a head-on car crash. In the days that followed, the tale of a faith leader who showed up at the scene, anointed the young woman and then subsequently vanished went viral.<\/p>\n

But now the individual, who brought calm upon the situation and who rescue workers have been hoping to find and thank, has been found. A press release provided to TheBlaze from the Diocese of Jefferson County confirmed that the Rev. Patrick Dowling, one of the priests who works with the diocese, is the individual whom they have been seeking.<\/p>\n

\"Mystery<\/a>
Mystery Priest Rev. Patrick Dowling (Photo Credit Diocese of Jefferson County)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While some assumed the mystery priest was an angel or a deceased Catholic saint coming back to shower goodwill upon mankind, it seems these individuals\u2019 theories were incorrect; it was, in fact, a caring bystander and faith leader who took the time to help a young woman in crisis.<\/p>\n

The statement, provided to TheBlaze by spokesperson Deacon Dan Joyce, head of communications for the diocese, reads (Joyce also confirmed these details with TheBlaze, noting that he has spoken with the priest about what unfolded):<\/p>\n

The Diocese of Jefferson City has identified the priest who assisted at the site of the Sunday morning, August 4, 2013 auto accident near Center, Mo. He is Rev. Patrick Dowling, a priest of the Jefferson City Diocese. Fr. Dowling was travelling Hwy 19 between Mass assignments that morning in northern and central Missouri.<\/p>\n

Fr. Dowling said that he is pleased that he was able to help by performing his ministry and noted that that he was just one of many who responded to assist the victim at the accident. He and the Diocese wish to acknowledge and thank the first responders, medical team and law enforcement personnel for their efforts that morning in aid of the young woman injured in the accident.<\/p>\n

Fr. Dowling, a native of Kilkenny, Ireland, was ordained a priest of the Diocese of Jefferson City, Mo., in 1982. He has served at parishes in Moberly, Monroe City, Indian Creek, Milan, Unionville and Eldon, Mo., and in the diocese\u2019s mission parishes in Marcona and Nasca, Peru.<\/p>\n

He is currently serving in prison ministry and in parish ministry to Spanish-speaking Catholics.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Rather than coming forward in a more ceremonial or traditional way, on Friday evening, Dowling chose to post a message in the comments section of an article on a Catholic news site \u2014 one that went widely unnoticed until this afternoon.<\/p>\n

Posting on an article written in the National Catholic Register<\/a> about the incident and the search for the mystery hero, the priest detailed what unfolded. He wrote that on his way home from a Mass \u2014 one during which he was filling in for a sick priest \u2014 he arrived at the crash scene. With authorities re-routing traffic (TheBlaze previously reported that the scene was shut down for a one-fourth of a mile radius), he waited until it was possible to get closer.<\/p>\n

\u201cI parked behind a large vehicle about 150 yards from the scene. I asked the Sheriff\u2019s permission and approached the scene of the accident,\u201d Dowling said<\/a>. \u201cI absolved and anointed Katie, and, at her request, prayed that her leg would not hurt. Then I stepped aside to where some rescue personnel and the pilot were waiting, and prayed the rosary silently.\u201d<\/p>\n

Then, he left the scene just as the helicopter was about to leave. Interestingly, he notes that he gave his name to one of the emergency personnel, but somehow it was seemingly not passed on. Rather than taking all the glory, the priest went on to thank all of these workers, noting that they deserve accolades.<\/p>\n

\u201cGod has blessed your work. I hope the credit goes where it is due,\u201d he said of emergency workers at the scene.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the full comment<\/a> that he posted, below:<\/strong><\/p>\n

I had Mass in Ewing MO as the regular priest was sick. As I was returning, I arrived at the scene. The authorities were redirecting traffic. I waited till it was possible to drive up closer. I parked behind a large vehicle about 150 yards from the scene. I asked the Sheriff\u2019s permission and approached the scene of the accident. I absolved and anointed Katie, and, at her request, prayed that her leg would not hurt. Then I stepped aside to where some rescue personnel and the pilot were waiting, and prayed the rosary silently. I left when the helicopter was about to take off, and before I got to my car it was on its way to Quincy. I was amazed at the calmness of the two Highway patrol men. The sergeant was completely in control, amazingly calm. Everybody worked as harmoniously as a Swiss watch despite the critical nature of the scene. I gave my name to one of the authorities, perhaps to the sergeant of Highway Patrol, explaining that I was returning having celebrated Mass at Ewing. It was the sergeant who, at the Sheriff\u2019s request, gave me Katie\u2019s name as I was leaving, so I could visit her in hospital\u2014I assumed she would be taken to Columbia. I think there may have been angels there too and, in this context, I congratulate the fire team from New London and Hannibal, the Sheriff\/deputies of Ralls County, the Highway Patrol personnel, the helicopter team, the nurses and all who worked so professionally. God has blessed your work. I hope the credit goes where it is due.<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

While some had hoped for supernatural intervention, it seems an entirely human conclusion has come to fruition. Still, the faithful would argue that God\u2019s hand was in this gesture, regardless of the channel that was used to help usher in calm at the scene.<\/p>\n

This is a breaking news story. Stay tuned for updates.<\/em><\/p>\n

Keep reading \u2193\u2193\u2193<\/span>
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"angel\"<\/a>Calvin’s Commentary<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong>: <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong>Humans do not become angels when they die. Angels are created creatures, created by God, who were never born like humans are. Angels are mentioned throughout the Bible and are not flesh and blood (like human beings).\u00a0 Angels are spiritual beings. They are called “messengers” of God and created by Him (Psalm 148). Job (the oldest book in the Bible) informs us that angels were present at the creation of the world.\u00a0 No human was present because Adam was not made by God as yet.\u00a0 Adam and Eve were the last creations of God in the Creation Account in Genesis chapters 1-3.\u00a0 Angels were present before mankind was created.\u00a0 Angels at seeing the awesome work of God’s hands they “shouted for joy” (Job 38:7). Regarding God’s Hand being at this crash site, of course He was! God is omnipresent and God cares about us human beings.\u00a0 As the King James Bible <\/a>says, “Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings.” [Psalm 17:8] — Definition of OMNIPRESENT<\/b>: present in all places at all times.\u00a0 — Read Psalm 139: God sees us whereever we are and He knows exactly what we are doing.\u00a0 — Read Jeremiah 29:11<\/a><\/strong> – For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/strong>\u25ac <\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong>Donna Calvin<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/strong> \u25ac Monday, August 12, 2013 <\/b><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Read more: http:\/\/www.theblaze.com\/stories\/2013\/08\/12\/mystery-priest-who-showed-up-at-crash-scene-then-vanished-is-identified\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u00a0Please read Calvin’s Commentary at the end, a brief Biblical explanation of the difference between angels and humans. ~&~&~&~&~&~&~&~&~&~&~ Mystery Priest Who Showed Up at a Crash Scene Then Vanished Has Been Identified \u2014 and Here\u2019s the Unlikely Way He Came Forward While some had hoped for supernatural intervention, it seems an entirely human conclusion…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":403,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2743,4872,4758,366,1462,252,373,3837,3366,6226,924,5634,299,168,5174,283,8219,1430,407,2837,108,156,1920,1159,627,5202,2838,1589],"tags":[8984,8995,8991,8986,8994,8992,8989,6555,8985,8988,8990,8993,8987],"class_list":["post-27268","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-amazing-pictures","category-amazing-stories","category-amazing-stories-of-courage","category-bible","category-breaking-news","category-christian","category-christian-activism","category-good-deeds","category-good-news","category-heart-rendering-stories","category-heroes","category-human-interest-story","category-inspirational","category-jesus-christ","category-joyful-stories","category-lovable-and-fuzzy","category-miracles","category-news-2","category-pray","category-prayer-2","category-religion","category-take-action","category-taking-america-back","category-the-christian-revolution","category-true-love","category-victory-2","category-wake-up-america","category-warm-and-fuzzy-stories","tag-angels","tag-angels-are-spiritual-beings-not-human-beings","tag-auto-accident-near-center-mo","tag-crash-scene","tag-gods-hand-was-in-this-gesture","tag-hwy-19","tag-katie-lentz","tag-missouri","tag-mystery-priest","tag-preist-idendified","tag-rev-patrick-dowling","tag-supernatural-intervention","tag-vanished-priest"],"yoast_head":"\nIdentified - Mystery Priest Showed Up at a Crash Scene, then Vanished - Watchwoman on the Wall<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/watchwomanonthewall\/2013\/08\/identified-mystery-priest-showed-up-at-a-crash-scene-then-vanished.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Identified - Mystery Priest Showed Up at a Crash Scene, then Vanished - Watchwoman on the Wall\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"\u00a0Please read Calvin’s Commentary at the end, a brief Biblical explanation of the difference between angels and humans. ~&~&~&~&~&~&~&~&~&~&~ Mystery Priest Who Showed Up at a Crash Scene Then Vanished Has Been Identified \u2014 and Here\u2019s the Unlikely Way He Came Forward While some had hoped for supernatural intervention, it seems an entirely human conclusion…\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/watchwomanonthewall\/2013\/08\/identified-mystery-priest-showed-up-at-a-crash-scene-then-vanished.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Watchwoman on the Wall\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2013-08-13T00:48:41+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/watchwomanonthewall\/files\/2013\/08\/Mystery-Priest-Rev-Patrick-Dowling-Photo-Credit-Diocese-of-Jefferson-County.jpg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Donna Calvin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Identified - Mystery Priest Showed Up at a Crash Scene, then Vanished - Watchwoman on the Wall","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/watchwomanonthewall\/2013\/08\/identified-mystery-priest-showed-up-at-a-crash-scene-then-vanished.html","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Identified - Mystery Priest Showed Up at a Crash Scene, then Vanished - Watchwoman on the Wall","og_description":"\u00a0Please read Calvin’s Commentary at the end, a brief Biblical explanation of the difference between angels and humans. ~&~&~&~&~&~&~&~&~&~&~ Mystery Priest Who Showed Up at a Crash Scene Then Vanished Has Been Identified \u2014 and Here\u2019s the Unlikely Way He Came Forward While some had hoped for supernatural intervention, it seems an entirely human conclusion…","og_url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/watchwomanonthewall\/2013\/08\/identified-mystery-priest-showed-up-at-a-crash-scene-then-vanished.html","og_site_name":"Watchwoman on the Wall","article_published_time":"2013-08-13T00:48:41+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/watchwomanonthewall\/files\/2013\/08\/Mystery-Priest-Rev-Patrick-Dowling-Photo-Credit-Diocese-of-Jefferson-County.jpg"}],"author":"Donna Calvin","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/watchwomanonthewall\/2013\/08\/identified-mystery-priest-showed-up-at-a-crash-scene-then-vanished.html","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/watchwomanonthewall\/2013\/08\/identified-mystery-priest-showed-up-at-a-crash-scene-then-vanished.html","name":"Identified - Mystery Priest Showed Up at a Crash Scene, then Vanished - Watchwoman on the Wall","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/watchwomanonthewall\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/watchwomanonthewall\/2013\/08\/identified-mystery-priest-showed-up-at-a-crash-scene-then-vanished.html#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/watchwomanonthewall\/2013\/08\/identified-mystery-priest-showed-up-at-a-crash-scene-then-vanished.html#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/watchwomanonthewall\/files\/2013\/08\/Mystery-Priest-Rev-Patrick-Dowling-Photo-Credit-Diocese-of-Jefferson-County.jpg","datePublished":"2013-08-13T00:48:41+00:00","dateModified":"2013-08-13T00:48:41+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/watchwomanonthewall\/#\/schema\/person\/1470e1ef6765f8a27f970307b0835df1"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/watchwomanonthewall\/2013\/08\/identified-mystery-priest-showed-up-at-a-crash-scene-then-vanished.html#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/watchwomanonthewall\/2013\/08\/identified-mystery-priest-showed-up-at-a-crash-scene-then-vanished.html"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/watchwomanonthewall\/2013\/08\/identified-mystery-priest-showed-up-at-a-crash-scene-then-vanished.html#primaryimage","url":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/watchwomanonthewall\/files\/2013\/08\/Mystery-Priest-Rev-Patrick-Dowling-Photo-Credit-Diocese-of-Jefferson-County.jpg","contentUrl":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/watchwomanonthewall\/files\/2013\/08\/Mystery-Priest-Rev-Patrick-Dowling-Photo-Credit-Diocese-of-Jefferson-County.jpg"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/watchwomanonthewall\/2013\/08\/identified-mystery-priest-showed-up-at-a-crash-scene-then-vanished.html#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/watchwomanonthewall"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Identified – Mystery Priest Showed Up at a Crash Scene, then Vanished"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/watchwomanonthewall\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/watchwomanonthewall\/","name":"Watchwoman on the Wall","description":"Beliefnet Voices - Donna Calvin","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/watchwomanonthewall\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/watchwomanonthewall\/#\/schema\/person\/1470e1ef6765f8a27f970307b0835df1","name":"Donna Calvin","description":"In sixth grade my teacher told us that we were going to be the first generation to see the year 2000 and all things would be different. He continued that God wasn't important, wasn't real, and our parents just used God to impose restrictions on us because they were inadequate to parent effectively. I knew then I was going to be involved in a war and that I would have to be in Jesus Christ's Army. Even then, I knew the United States of America would cease to exist without the vast majority of its citizens voluntarily submitting to the Perfect and Good Laws of the Holy Bible. I am a woman who loves the Lord Jesus Christ. I am tired of seeing our LORD denigrated from the school house to the White House. I search the Internet for items that ought to serve as a warning to Americans and Christians all through America, but the nation seems to be sleeping. Wake up America! You are losing your freedoms, your children and your country. Wake up and help stop it!","url":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/watchwomanonthewall\/author\/dcalvin"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/watchwomanonthewall\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27268","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/watchwomanonthewall\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/watchwomanonthewall\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/watchwomanonthewall\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/403"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/watchwomanonthewall\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27268"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/watchwomanonthewall\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27268\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27277,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/watchwomanonthewall\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27268\/revisions\/27277"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/watchwomanonthewall\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27268"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/watchwomanonthewall\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27268"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/watchwomanonthewall\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27268"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}