January 23, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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Father Joseph Doogan was invited to celebrate a special liturgy with the Sisters of Providence at St. Joseph Residence in Seattle on January 19 in memory of his brother, Monsignor John P. Doogan, who worked with the sisters for many years.
January 22 marked the six-month anniversary of the death of Msgr. Doogan.
In his honor, the Leadership Team of Mother Joseph Province presented two $2,500 scholarship donations – one for a student at each of the high schools where Msgr. Doogan served as principal.
“The Doogan family and the Sisters of Providence have a long and cherished history,” said Sister Barbara Schamber, Team Leader/Provincial of Mother Joseph Province, in making the scholarship presentation. John Doogan was born at Providence Hospital, Seattle, across the street from the Doogan family home. He later worked as an elevator operator at Providence and was driving for the sisters at Kansas City Chiefs jerseys the hospital when he entered the seminary.”
“The very day after his ordination as a priest, John came to Mount St. Vincent to celebrate Mass with the Sisters,” Sister Barbara recalled.
His first assignments were in places where the Sisters of Providence also served in ministry, St. Catherine’s in Seattle and St. Michael’s in Olympia.
In 1953, he was asked to be the founding principal of Bishop Blanchet High School, the first Archdiocese of Seattle co-educational high school, where he served in ministry with a number of Sisters of Providence until 1964. He also served as chaplain at Providence Heights College of Sister Formation from 1961 to 1966.
In 1966, he was asked to be the founding principal and planner of another new high school, John F. Kennedy Memorial, where he again served in ministry with a number of Sisters of Providence until 1969. Msgr. Doogan also gave the homily when the statue of Mother Joseph as unveiled at Statuary Hall in Washington, D.C.
“How fitting the Monsignor died back with the Sisters of Providence at Providence Mount St. Vincent on July 22, 2003, and that we gather in community today in gratitude for his presence and ministry among us,” Sister Barbara said.
The liturgy in Msgr. Doogan’s honor also welcomes the General Council of the sister?s international community from Montreal to the West for an official month long visitation. The General Superior for the international community is Kathryn “Kitsy” Rutan, SP, who was a member of the province’s Leadership Team prior to her election.