Social Gossip, The Queenslander, Brisbane, 29 December 1923, p 10, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article22650666:

The death of the Rev. John Gowen, parish priest of Hamilton, took place in the Mater Misericordiae Hospital on December 20. The late Father Gowen was a native of Ballyhooley, County Cork, Ireland, where he was born 47 years ago. He was educated first at Fermoy Seminary, and afterwards at All Hallows' College, Dublin, and was ordained priest in June, 1900. Towards the end of the same year he arrived in Brisbane, in company with Father O'Leary of Coorparoo, and Father Cashman, of Toowoomba. Soon after his arrival he was appointed as curate to the late Father James Horan, at Warwick. Subsequently he was transferred to Brisbane, and for several years acted as chaplain to St. Vincent's Orphanage, Nudgee. While filling this position he resided with the late Father James Breen, at St. Joseph's Presbytery, Kangaroo Point. On the formation of Hamilton into a parish in 1914, Father Gowen was appointed its first pastor, and held that position until his death.

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Rev. Father John Gowen. Death in Brisbane, The Catholic Press, Sydney, 3 January 1924, p 25, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article106402086:

The death of the Rev. Father John Gowen, P.P., St. Cecilia, Hamilton, took place in the Mater Misericordiae Private Hospital, Brisbane, on Thursday afternoon, 20th ult. Father Gowen caught a chill in Sydney, where he had gone for a holiday about Easter time. On his return to Brisbane he continued to carry on his usual duties; but, with the coming of the winter months, the cold from which he never completely recovered developed into an acute attack of pneumonia. For several weeks the popular priest was confined to his room at the Hamilton Presbytery. Indeed, few of his friends thought that he would battle through the ordeal of so severe an illness; but, under the skilful care of Dr. Connolly, he recovered sufficiently to take a sea voyage to the north, and he returned to Brisbane apparently fully restored to health. The burning down of his presbytery just as he was going to set out on the health trip was a great shock to him, and it possibly had much to do with his subsequent relapse into illness. Soon after his return from the north he again became very unwell, and Dr. Connolly ordered his removal to the Mater Misericordiae Hospital, where every care was bestowed on him. But he sank gradually, and passed peacefully away.

His Grace Archbishop Duhig was with him during the day, and Right. Rev. Monsignor Byrne, V.G., remained at his bedside practically up to the time of his death.

Activities in Australia.

The late Father Gowen was a native of Ballyhooley, County Cork, Ireland, where he was born 47 years ago. He was educated, first at Fermoy Seminary, and afterwards at All Hallows College, Dublin, and was ordained priest in June, 1900. Towards the end of the same year he arrived in Brisbane, in company with Rev. Father O'Leary, of Coorparoo, and Rev. Father Cashman, of Toowoomba. Soon after his arrival he was appointed curate to the late Father James Horan at Warwick. Subsequently he was transferred to Brisbane, and for several years acted as chaplain to St. Vincent's Orphanage, Nudgee. While filling this position he resided with the late Father James Breen at St. Joseph's Presbytery, Kangaroo Point. On the formation of Hamilton into a parish in 1914, Father Gowen was appointed its first pastor, and held that office until his death. He was responsible for the erection of the fine group of buildings in St. Cecilia's parish, and through his successful administration, together with the generosity of the people, the parish is completely free of debt—a fine record in such a short period, when it is remembered that £9000 had been expended in the acquiring of land and the erection of building. Father Gowen's death will be keenly felt by his late parishioners, as well as by his fellow-priests, who held him in great esteem.

The Obsequies.

A Solemn Requiem Mass for the repose of the soul of the late Father Gowen was celebrated on Friday morning, the 21st ult., at St. Stephen's Cathedral. Rev. Father O'Leary was the celebrant: Rev. Fathers Jordan and Dee, deacon and sub-deacon, respectively, and Rev. Father O'Connor, master of ceremonies. His Grace Archbishop Duhig occupied the throne, and was supported by Monsignor Byrne, V.G., and Monsignor Potter. The following priests were present: Very Rev. Fathers W. Lee and Fitzgerald, Rev. Fathers Corrigan, J. Power, J. Murphy, P. Murphy. W. Byrne. J. Burke, J. F. McCarthy. L. Carlton, E. A. Stanaway, M. Lane, W. Cashman, J. Roney, S.J., M. Collins, C.SS.R., P. Shannon, C.SS.R., A. Wright, J. Flanagan. J. Hegarty, W. English, V. Wheeler, E. S. Barry, T. P. Lalor, J. Gallagher, J. Keating, J. O'Callaghan, J. Dowling, M. P. Curran, W. Hogan, E. Carroll, T. Moloney, F. Burton and J. O'Reilly.

In the course of his address his Grace paid a tribute to the work of the departed priest. "The life of each and every man has some outstanding characteristic, and the outstanding fact in Father Gowen's life was its gentleness. He had in very truth the gentleness appertaining to that of his Divine Master," said his Grace. He also said "that the history of the parish of Hamilton would be inseparably connected with the work of the deceased. All his life Father Gowen was a man of peace, and never in his life did he offer the least hurt or offence to anyone, whether of his own or those who did not belong to his own faith. He would also be remembered with deep affection at St. Vincent's, where he so long had ministered. He had a very kind heart, and showed it when he was chaplain there. His fine nobleness was always exercised on behalf of the young and the poor."

At the conclusion of the Mass the casket containing the beloved priest's body was carried to the waiting hearse, followed by all the assembled clergy. A lengthy cortege followed the remains, which were interred in Nudgee Cemetery. His Grace Archbishop Duhig performed the last sad offices at the graveside.—R.I.P.

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A Prayer-Calendar of Deceased Priests & Deacons in Australia 1788-2009, compiled by W.T. Southerwood, Sixth Edition, 2009, p 167: listed as John Gowen, date of death given erroneously as 20 December 1933 and erroneous annotation "Hamilton, Sale, South Melbourne, Keilor, St. Kilda, etc, Vic".

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Prayer Calendar: Deceased Priests who have ministered the Catholic Faith throughout Toowoomba and districts, 1864–2025, Compiled by Annie Carrett, Diocesan Archivist, 2001, Updated by Gabrielle Saide, Diocesan Archivist, 2023:
Rev John Gowan, died 20 Dec 1933 [sic]

Born in Ireland and studied at All Hallows. Pugh's list him as serving in Warwick from 1901-1905. He died aged 47 and is buried in Nudgee Cemetery.
(Ref. Linane G68 and Pugh's)

Reproduced by permission of Bishop Ken Howell.

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Denis M. Long, Pioneer and Early Priests, Archdiocese of Brisbane, Deceased or retired by 1929, 2021, pp 170-171:
Fr John Gowen

John Gowen was born at Ballyhooley in County Cork Ireland in 1876, the son of Laurence and Margaret (nee Barnett) Gowen. He began his education for the priesthood in St Colman's seminary at Fermoy before moving to All Hallows College in Dublin where he was ordained a priest in June 1900.

Fr Gowen arrived in Australia later that year. He was accompanied by Fathers Gerry O'Leary and William Cashman, ordained the previous year at All Hallows. Archbishop Dunne had sent these two priests to Austria for a year that they might lean German.

Soon after his arrival Fr Gowen was appointed as a curate to Fr James Horan in Warwick. Subsequently to this he was appointed as chaplain to St Vincent's Orphanage at Nudgee. During which time he resided with Fr James Breen at St Joseph's presbytery, Kangaroo Point.

In 1914, Fr Gowen was appointed the foundation pastor of St Cecilia's parish, Hamilton in 1914. He held this office until his death on 20 December 1923. He erected a fine group of buildings in St Cecilia's parish. Through the generosity of the people the parish was completely free of debt in a short period.

Obituary in the Catholic Press
Father John Gowen, Parish Priest of St Cecilia's parish, Hamilton, died in the Mater Misericordiae Private Hospital on Thursday afternoon, 20 December 1923. Father Gowen caught a chill in Sydney, where he went for a holiday about Easter time, 1923. On his return to Brisbane, he continued to carry on his usual duties; but, with the coming of the winter months, the cold from which he never completely recovered developed into an acute attack of pneumonia. For several weeks the popular priest was confined to his room at the Hamilton Presbytery. Indeed, few of his friends thought that he would battle through the ordeal of so severe an illness; but, under the skilful care of Dr Connolly, he recovered sufficiently to take a sea voyage to the north, and returned to Brisbane apparently fully restored to health. The burning down of his presbytery just as he was going to set out on the health trip was a great shock to him, and it possibly had much to do with his subsequent relapse into illness. Soon after his return from the north he again became very unwell, and Dr Connolly ordered his removal to the Mater Misericordiae Hospital, where every care was bestowed on him. But he sank gradually and passed peacefully away.

His Grace Archbishop Duhig was with him during the day, and Right Rev Monsignor Byrne, VG, remained at his bedside practically up to the time of his death.

Father Gowen's death will be keenly felt by his late parishioners, as well as by his fellow priests, who held him in great esteem.(1)

The day after his funeral the Courier Mail carried a lengthy account of Fr Gowen's funeral, under a heading:

Late Father Gowen
"A Life of Gentleness"
The life of each and every man has some outstanding characteristic, and the outstanding fact in Fr Gowen's life was his gentleness. He had in very truth the gentleness of the His Divine Master, said his Grace Archbishop Duhig, in the course of an eloquent panegyric on the life of the late Father Gowen at the Requiem Mass in St Stephen's Cathedral yesterday, prior to the funeral of the late parish priest of St Cecilia's, Hamilton. Prior to the opening of the ceremony many members of the large congregation approached the casket, which was placed before the high altar, and knelt in prayer for the repose of the soul of the departed.

During the Mass His Grace was assisted at the throne by Monsignor Potter and Monsignor Byrne. Rev Father O'Leary celebrated the Mass with the Rev Father Jordan as Deacon, and the Rev Father Dee as Subdeacon. The Rev T O'Connor was Master of Ceremonies.

The following priests were present:- Reverends W Lee, P Corrigan, H Fitzgerald, J Power, J Murphy, P Murphy, W Byrne, J Burke, J F McCarthy, J McCarthy, L Carlton, E A Stanaway, M Lane, W Cashman, J Roney SJ, M Collins CSsR, P Shannon CSsR, A Wright, J Flanagan, J Hegarty, W English, V Wheeler, E S Barry, T P Lalor, J Gallagher, J Keating, J O'Callaghan, J Dowling, M P Curran, W Hogan, M Irvine, F Carroll, T Molony, F Burton and J O'Reilly.

A Faithful Worker
In the course of his address his Grace paid a tribute to the work of the departed. He said that the history of the parish of Hamilton would be inseparably connected with the work of the deceased. All his life Father Gowen was a man of peace, and never in his life did he offer the least hurt or offence to any one, whether of his own or those who did not belong to his own faith. He would also be remembered with deep affection at St Vincent's where he so long had ministered. He had a very kind heart, and showed it when he was chaplain there. His fine nobleness was always exercised on behalf of the young and the poor.

At the conclusion of the Mass the casket was carried to the waiting hearse, followed by all the assembled clergy.

A lengthy cortege followed the remains, which were interred in Nudgee Roman Catholic cemetery. His Grace Archbishop Duhig performed the last sad offices at the graveside.(2)

While he had always resided in south-east Queensland, he was well known in distant areas of the state. The Barcaldine newspaper the Western Champion, in reporting his death in January, 1924 added this interesting note.

He (Father Gowen) was personally a very lovable character. Sincere in his station, with a face like an angel, good and kind, he was held in great esteem by his flock, his fellow priests and his sacerdotal superiors. Like many other priests he had a love for a good horse, and he was a fairly regular attendant at the QTC races, held at Ascot, in the Hamilton parish. He was said to be 'in the know' and to get the 'right oil', but he met the fate that all punters, however careful and prudent, always meet in the end, that is, at the end of a year's transactions 'about level or perhaps a little behind it'.(3)

Footnotes
1. Catholic Press, Sydney, 3 Jan 1924, p. 25. [possibly copied from Brisbane Catholic paper]
2. Brisbane Courier, 22 Dec 1923, p. 10.
3. Western Champion, Barcaldine, 19 Jan 1924, p. 22.

Reproduced by permission of Fr Denis Long.