Stephen Bowler | ANZ Clergy


About Help Contact login Rev Stephen Bowler SJ Title: Rev First Name: Stephen Middle Names: Paul Preferred Name: Surname: Bowler Order: SJ Date of Birth: 15-Jan-1925 Place of Birth: Adelaide SA Country of Birth: Australia Date of Ordination: Place of Ordination: Country of Ordination: Ordination Diocese: Seminary: Date of Death: 18-Oct-1998 Place of Death: Adelaide SA Country of Death: Australia Date of Burial: 1998 Place of Burial: West Terrace, Adelaide SA Country of Burial: Australia Find A Grave URL: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/156798975 FindaGrave - Person Photo FindaGrave - Grave Photo Biographical Notes Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017: Bowler, Stephen Teacher; born Adelaide, South Australia, 15 January 1925; died Adelaide, 18 October 1998, aged 73. Stephen Bowler was educated by the Marist Brothers at St Ignatius' School, Norwood, and by the Christian Brothers in Adelaide. He loved sport, especially Australian Rules football, and played with the Norwood colts. Bowler joined the Australian Air Force, 1943-46, and later entered the Society at Loyola College, Watsonia, 1 February 1951. He completed his juniorate and philosophy there, and regency at St Louis School, Claremont, WA, 1957-59, teaching mathematics and English, as well as being a division prefect and involved with cadets. Theology was at Canisius College, Pymble, 1960-63, followed by tertianship at Rathfarnham, Dublin, 1964-65. Except for 1971 at St Louis School, Bowler remained in Adelaide for the rest of his life. He spent 1967-70 at St Ignatius' College senior school at Athelstone, as sportsmaster, labouring hard for long hours transforming virgin land into playing fields. For 27 years he worked in the junior school of the college at Norwood, as teacher, prefect of studies, headmaster, 1975-87, chaplain, 1988-98, and sportsmaster, as well as priest of the parish. At Norwood he devoted much of his later years to the Learning Assistance Programme (LAP), which targeted students with special needs. He also built up a team of devoted volunteers to administer the Programme. He is remembered for his consistent cheerfulness and enthusiasm for all aspects of life, his own and others, as well as always being late for community appointments. He related well to young boys, and was a fine mentor to them, challenging them to be prayerful people. 'Do not pray for an easy life, pray to be a strong person', he would say. They enjoyed his gentleness and companionship. He was always in the yard with them, and guided them across the road after school. His colleagues appreciated his spiritual and personal offerings, recalling his companionship, his fidelity and courage, his thoughtfulness in small matters, the way he encouraged, rejoiced and mourned with them, and his vigour in Year 3 basketball. Anyone who knew him soon realised his passion for the Norwood football team. He was a member of the club. From 1971 Bowler suffered ill health with repeated attacks of septicemia, despite his appearance of physical strength. But these difficulties never dampened his positive spirit. He was very close to his family, especially his twin sister, Monica, a member of the Little Company of Mary. In April 1998, he underwent a seven-hour operation for cancer from which he never recovered. In his last illness he lived with his brother, Basil, who cared for him until his death. (Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)

Title:

Rev

First Name:

Stephen

Middle Names:

Paul

Preferred Name:

Surname:

Bowler

Order:

Date of Birth:

15-Jan-1925

Place of Birth:

Adelaide SA

Country of Birth:

Australia

Date of Ordination:

Place of Ordination:

Country of Ordination:

Ordination Diocese:

Seminary:

Date of Death:

18-Oct-1998

Place of Death:

Adelaide SA

Country of Death:

Australia

Date of Burial:

1998

Place of Burial:

West Terrace, Adelaide SA

Country of Burial:

Australia

Find A Grave URL:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/156798975

FindaGrave - Person Photo

FindaGrave - Grave Photo

Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017:
Bowler, Stephen

Teacher; born Adelaide, South Australia, 15 January 1925; died Adelaide, 18 October 1998, aged 73.

Stephen Bowler was educated by the Marist Brothers at St Ignatius' School, Norwood, and by the Christian Brothers in Adelaide. He loved sport, especially Australian Rules football, and played with the Norwood colts. Bowler joined the Australian Air Force, 1943-46, and later entered the Society at Loyola College, Watsonia, 1 February 1951. He completed his juniorate and philosophy there, and regency at St Louis School, Claremont, WA, 1957-59, teaching mathematics and English, as well as being a division prefect and involved with cadets. Theology was at Canisius College, Pymble, 1960-63, followed by tertianship at Rathfarnham, Dublin, 1964-65.

Except for 1971 at St Louis School, Bowler remained in Adelaide for the rest of his life. He spent 1967-70 at St Ignatius' College senior school at Athelstone, as sportsmaster, labouring hard for long hours transforming virgin land into playing fields. For 27 years he worked in the junior school of the college at Norwood, as teacher, prefect of studies, headmaster, 1975-87, chaplain, 1988-98, and sportsmaster, as well as priest of the parish. At Norwood he devoted much of his later years to the Learning Assistance Programme (LAP), which targeted students with special needs. He also built up a team of devoted volunteers to administer the Programme.

He is remembered for his consistent cheerfulness and enthusiasm for all aspects of life, his own and others, as well as always being late for community appointments. He related well to young boys, and was a fine mentor to them, challenging them to be prayerful people. 'Do not pray for an easy life, pray to be a strong person', he would say. They enjoyed his gentleness and companionship. He was always in the yard with them, and guided them across the road after school.

His colleagues appreciated his spiritual and personal offerings, recalling his companionship, his fidelity and courage, his thoughtfulness in small matters, the way he encouraged, rejoiced and mourned with them, and his vigour in Year 3 basketball. Anyone who knew him soon realised his passion for the Norwood football team. He was a member of the club.

From 1971 Bowler suffered ill health with repeated attacks of septicemia, despite his appearance of physical strength. But these difficulties never dampened his positive spirit. He was very close to his family, especially his twin sister, Monica, a member of the Little Company of Mary. In April 1998, he underwent a seven-hour operation for cancer from which he never recovered. In his last illness he lived with his brother, Basil, who cared for him until his death.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)

Rev Stephen Bowler SJ

Biographical Notes