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.
Father Patrick Dowling, a priest in the Jefferson City Missouri Diocese, stepped forward this week. He was travelling Highway 19 between mass assignments two weeks ago when he stopped at a crash site. The Missouri priest got out and prayed with 19-year-old crash victim Katie Lentz and first responders. Then he disappeared.
Father Patrick Dowling spoke with KHQA this week about the crash.
Father Dowling told KHQA reporters:
Dowling said that he’s pleased that he was able to help by performing his ministry and said that he was one of many who responded to help the victim.
“You must remember, there were many people praying there, many, many people … and they were all praying obviously for healing and for her safety,” Dowling told Carl Bunderson with Catholic News Agency. “I was probably part of the answer to their prayers, I came by and Anointed and absolved, (but) I didn’t say another word … I did not say anything like the machinery would begin to work or they would succeed in getting her out of the car.”
