Margaret Dowling

Margaret Dowling or Mother Mary Dominic (1853 – 14 July 1900) was an Irish-American Dominican nun and foundress.

Early life Margaret Dowling was born in Ballyconra, County Kilkenny. Her parents were Edward and Elizabeth Dowling. She attended school locally, and emigrated to New York in 1869. She entered the Dominican Congregation of the Holy Rosary on 23 June 1876, the order having been founded on 6 May 1876. On 8 December 1876 she received the Dominican habit and took the name Sister Mary Dominic. She professed on 8 December 1878. Dowling became the re-founder of the community. The congregation had very little income, and the vicar general refused to allow the entrance of new nuns until the community was financially secure. During this time members were free to join another congregation or to return to secular life, with the 8 remaining professed sisters all having Irish surnames. The division between the lay sisters and the choir remained. In 1995 the Order opened the Dowling Gardens, an independent living residential community for senior citizens, named in her memory.