Library inside St. Francis of Assisi Church's Addiction Recovery Ministry dedicated to Brother Mark Lowery
Brother Mark Lowery committed decades of his life to embracing people with addiction, including his own.
The Brother Mark Lowery Resource Library is a way to keep his memory alive. It’s inside the church — which is part of the Christ the King Parish — where the Addiction Recovery Ministry is housed.
“Three people came up to me and told me my uncle saved their life,” said Mark Lowery of Franklin Park, during an April 21 event honoring his late uncle and namesake, Brother Mark Lowery, at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Harmar. “My uncle was one-of-a-kind. The greatest thing I can say about my uncle is everyone was his family. I miss him dearly, and I know my family misses him dearly, too.”
Brother Mark didn’t talk much about his personal struggle with alcoholism, said his niece, Diann Ranallo of Shaler. He celebrated 26 years of sobriety.
“His empathy for others was strong because he understood what they were going through,” Ranallo said.
A De La Salle Christian Brother for 65 years, he died May 21, 2021, of complications from a stroke. He was 84.
Lowery grew up in Pittsburgh’s Greenfield neighborhood in St. Rosalia Parish and graduated from Central Catholic High School in Oakland. He attended La Salle University in Philadelphia, was a teacher and vice principal at West Philadelphia Catholic High School for Boys and principal at Bishop Walsh School in Cumberland, Md.
He was director of alumni at Central Catholic and served as a drug and alcohol counselor at Michael’s Place, a recovery house in the Stanton Heights/East Liberty section of Pittsburgh. He also worked in drug and alcohol counseling at Central Catholic and the organization Greenfield Organized Against Drugs Program.
The idea to rename the library came from the ministry’s administrative assistant, Rosemarie Haas. A photo of Lowery is one of the first images you see when you enter, in addition to stacks of books on addiction and some of his religious belongings — a cross and shamrock with an Irish blessing. There is a computer available for assistance with resumes, job searches and housing.
Haas, of O’Hara, said to be able to offer hope inspired by Lowery’s devotion is wonderful.
“There is a stigma attached to addiction, and the pandemic made things worse,” she said. “We want to help those battling addiction.”
Lowery always knew what to do to help, according to the Rev. Michael W. Decewicz, a retired priest and director of the Addiction Recovery Ministry. He met Lowery while in recovery more than two decades ago. Decewicz, who retired from active ministry about two years ago, led a prayer service and blessed the library.
“Brother Mark was a real gift,” said Decewicz, former pastor of Saint Juan Diego Parish in Sharpsburg and former Parochial Vicar of Christ the King Parish. “The library is a way to keep his memory alive. The hope is that all who come here will be enlightened by Brother Mark.”
Brother Charles Huber and Brother Martin Zewe of Central Catholic said Lowery helped “tons and tons” of people.
“His cellphone would ring at all hours,” Huber said. “He would answer every time. If someone needed to talk, he would talk. If someone needed him to come and visit them, he would go visit them no matter what time of day it was. He was the most positive person I have ever met. He wasn’t judgmental. He brought God to the people he helped. He would say, ‘God loves you, too.’”
One of the people Lowery helped is Dan Luttner of Franklin Park. They met in recovery. Luttner has a photo of Lowery in his office. He recalled them having dinner in Oakland. The restaurant was busy so they were asked if it would be OK to sit at the bar.
“Here we are, two guys in recovery sitting at the bar,” Luttner said. “But I was fine, because I was with Mark.”
Luttner said he was embarrassed about what was happening in his life, and he didn’t immediately think of a religious connection as a way to help him through addiction.
The library will help Lowery’s legacy live on, Luttner said. Luttner said Lowery was unstoppable. He would take the bus Downtown to see someone who needed help during the pandemic.
“We were all staying home, and he was risking his life for someone else,” Luttner said. “I owe my life to him. He was truly an angel on Earth. I will never forget what he did for me.”
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of "A Daughter's Promise." She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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