Dowling Mysteries — Father

(Tom Bosley): A compassionate Chicago priest with a knack for sleuthing.

(Mary Wickes): The sharp-tongued parish housekeeper.

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 .

(James Stephens): The ambitious assistant to the Archbishop who often provides comic relief. Origins and Legacy

The "proper feature" likely refers to the two-hour television movie pilot titled " Fatal Confession " , which aired on November 30, 1987, on NBC .