Katie Lentz, 19, was hit by a drunk driver and was pinned between the steering wheel and the seat of her Mercedes last Sunday.
That’s when a priest appeared and prayed with her. She was freed minutes later from the wreck but when the crews turned to thank the priest – he was gone.
Today the Diocese of Jefferson City identified the mystery priest.
His name is Rev. Patrick Dowling, a native of Kilkenny, Ireland.
The NC Register reported, via The Blaze:
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.
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.
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’s mission parishes in Marcona and Nasca, Peru.
Rev. Patrick Dowling (Photo Credit: Diocese of Jefferson County)