Archbishop Ryan's rites planned

Archbishop Ryan's rites planned

Bishop Howard J. Hubbard called Archbishop Ryan "a consummate Churchman, unfailingly kind and gracious, and a tireless servant in the Lord's vineyard. The Diocese is proud to herald him as a native son."

A native of Albany whose priestly life took him to the farthest reaches of the United States and around the world, Joseph Ryan was ordained in 1939 and assigned as an associate pastor at St. Alphonsus parish in Glens Falls, St. Francis de Sales in Herkimer and St. Patrick's in Troy, where he taught at Catholic Central High School.

During World War II, Father Ryan served in the Navy as a chaplain. He was stationed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, before landing with the Marines on the South Pacific islands of Pelilieu and Okinawa. At the time of the Japanese surrender in 1945, Father Ryan was stationed in China. A Marine described the chaplain as "warm and understanding -- always available to discuss the problems that arose....His actions under fire were a source of inspiration to all."

After the war, he returned to the Diocese as assistant pastor of St. Mary's Church in Hudson and administrator of Our Lady Help of Christians in Albany. He was also director of Vocations for the Diocese, and head of its Radio and Television Office.

Bishop Hubbard termed these assignments as excellent preparation for "the larger responsibilities he was called to exercise." The first call came in 1957 when Father Ryan was named chancellor of the Military Ordinariate, the "diocese" of all men and women serving in the U.S. armed forces. He also was elevated to the rank of monsignor. Next, he was named assistant secretary of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association (CNEWA), field director of the Pontifical Mission for Palestine, secretary of the CNEWA and finally its president.

In 1966, Msgr. Ryan was ordained a bishop at the Cathedral in Albany and installed soon after in Alaska as the first archbishop of Anchorage. Due to his appointment, a relationship was established between the Albany Diocese and Anchorage Archdiocese that resulted in priests and women religious from New York serving in the 50th state.

After ten years in Alaska, Archbishop Ryan was named coadjutor bishop of the Military Vicariate and succeeded in 1985 as its archbishop. Upon his retirement in 1991, Archbishop Ryan returned to the Albany Diocese.

"I grew up there, served in various roles as a priest there and still count many people there among my closest friends," he said at the time. "I hope that I can still serve in some small way as long as health permits."

On the occasion of his 60th anniversary as a priest, Archbishop Ryan told The Evangelist: "Outside of the normal human tragedies, like the death of loved ones, my life as a priest has always been a happy one. I am most grateful to Our Lord and His Blessed Mother for all I have experienced in my life."

Archbishop Ryan's body will be received at Our Lady of Hope Residence in Latham on Oct. 12 at 4 p.m. The Rosary will be prayed at 7 p.m. On Oct. 13 at 2 p.m., his body will be received at the Cathedral with evening prayer at 7 p.m. Interment will be in St. Agnes Cemetery, Menands.

(Editor's note: The addition of Archbishop Ryan's funeral to the Oct. 14 schedule at the Cathedral requires that couples coming to the annual Marriage Jubilee Mass that day must not arrive before 1 p.m.)

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