[1] When the foundress of the order died on 2 March 1879, her successor, her sister, was removed from office after a year due to a lack of administrative skills.
The order went through a number of failed ballots to elect the successor on 9 April 1880, with the archbishop's vicar general, Monsignor William Quinn, appointing Dowling prioress for three years.
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.
[1] The order founded new convents in the archdioceses of New York and St Louis as well as the dioceses of Albany, Brooklyn, Jefferson City, Rockville Centre, Syracuse, and Wilmington.
[1][3] In 1995 the Order opened the Dowling Gardens, an independent living residential community for senior citizens, named in her memory.