(Tracy Nelson): A street-smart nun who assists him with unconventional skills like lock-picking.
(Mary Wickes): The sharp-tongued parish housekeeper. Father Dowling Mysteries
(James Stephens): The ambitious assistant to the Archbishop who often provides comic relief. Origins and Legacy (Tracy Nelson): A street-smart nun who assists him
The "proper feature" likely refers to the two-hour television movie pilot titled " Fatal Confession " , which aired on November 30, 1987, on NBC . which aired on November 30
This feature-length film introduced the main characters and served as the precursor to the television series that began in 1989. Title : Fatal Confession: A Father Dowling Mystery .