John Joseph Thomas Ryan
Encyclopedia
John Joseph Thomas Ryan (November 1, 1913—October 9, 2000) was an American
prelate
of the Roman Catholic Church
. He was Archbishop for the Military Services from 1985 to 1991, having previously served as Archbishop of Anchorage
from 1966 to 1975.
, New York
, to Patrick and Agnes (Patterson) Ryan. He attended Manhattan College
in New York City
and St. Joseph's Seminary
in Yonkers
. He was ordained
to the priesthood
on June 3, 1939. He was in the Navy Chaplain Corps
from 1943 to 1946 and took part in the Marine landing at
Okinawa
; he was cited twice for bravery. Ryan then worked in the Diocese of Albany
from 1946 to 1957 and was chancellor
of the U.S. Military Vicariate from 1957 to 1958. From 1958 to 1960, he was based in Beirut
, where he did relief work with the Catholic Near East Welfare Association
and the Pontifical Mission for Palestine
.
On February 7, 1966, Ryan was appointed the first Archbishop of Anchorage
, Alaska
, by Pope Paul VI
. He received his episcopal consecration
on the following March 25 from Cardinal Francis Spellman, with Bishops Edward Joseph Maginn and Edward Ernest Swanstrom
serving as co-consecrators
. The Anchorage Archdiocese was erected following the 1964 Good Friday Earthquake, and was formed from the South Central area of the Diocese of Juneau
. After nine years in Alaska, Ryan was named Coadjutor Archbishop
for the Military Vicariate and Titular Archbishop of Gabii
on November 4, 1975.
After the death of Cardinal Terence Cooke, Pope John Paul II
elevated the Military Vicariate (which had had the same ordinary as the Archdiocese of New York
) to the rank of an archdiocese
and named Ryan the first Archbishop for the Military Services on March 16, 1985. In this capacity, he provided for the pastoral and spiritual care of Catholics in the United States armed forces
and their families, residents of veterans hospitals and civilian government employees living abroad. He retired as Archbishop on May 14, 1991 and returned to his native Albany, where he later died at age 86.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. He was Archbishop for the Military Services from 1985 to 1991, having previously served as Archbishop of Anchorage
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Anchorage
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Anchorage is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the northwestern United States, comprising several boroughs and census areas in the state of Alaska. It is led by a prelate archbishop which serves as pastor of the mother church,...
from 1966 to 1975.
Biography
Joseph T. Ryan was born in AlbanyAlbany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, to Patrick and Agnes (Patterson) Ryan. He attended Manhattan College
Manhattan College
Manhattan College is a Roman Catholic liberal arts college in the Lasallian tradition in New York City, United States. Despite the college's name, it is no longer located in Manhattan but in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, roughly 10 miles north of Midtown. Manhattan College offers...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and St. Joseph's Seminary
St. Joseph's Seminary, Dunwoodie
St. Joseph's Seminary and College, sometimes referred to as Dunwoodie, after the Yonkers, New York neighborhood it is located in, is the major seminary of the Archdiocese of New York. Its primary mission is to form men for the priesthood in the Catholic Church...
in Yonkers
Yonkers, New York
Yonkers is the fourth most populous city in the state of New York , and the most populous city in Westchester County, with a population of 195,976...
. He was ordained
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
to the priesthood
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
on June 3, 1939. He was in the Navy Chaplain Corps
United States Navy Chaplain Corps
The Chaplain Corps of the United States Navy consists of ordained clergy who are commissioned naval officers. Their principal purpose is to "promote the spiritual, religious, moral, and personal well-being of the members of the Department of the Navy," which includes the Navy and the United States...
from 1943 to 1946 and took part in the Marine landing at
Battle of Okinawa
The Battle of Okinawa, codenamed Operation Iceberg, was fought on the Ryukyu Islands of Okinawa and was the largest amphibious assault in the Pacific War of World War II. The 82-day-long battle lasted from early April until mid-June 1945...
Okinawa
Okinawa Prefecture
is one of Japan's southern prefectures. It consists of hundreds of the Ryukyu Islands in a chain over long, which extends southwest from Kyūshū to Taiwan. Okinawa's capital, Naha, is located in the southern part of Okinawa Island...
; he was cited twice for bravery. Ryan then worked in the Diocese of Albany
Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany covers all or part of 14 counties in Eastern New York...
from 1946 to 1957 and was chancellor
Chancellor (ecclesiastical)
Two quite distinct officials of some Christian churches have the title Chancellor.*In some churches, the Chancellor of a diocese is a lawyer who represents the church in legal matters....
of the U.S. Military Vicariate from 1957 to 1958. From 1958 to 1960, he was based in Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
, where he did relief work with the Catholic Near East Welfare Association
Catholic Near East Welfare Association
The Catholic Near East Welfare Association is an agency of the Holy See, founded by Pope Pius XI in 1926 to support the churches and peoples of the Middle East, Northeast Africa, India and Eastern Europe. Its first President was Edmund A. Walsh, S.J. The current President is the Reverend Monsignor...
and the Pontifical Mission for Palestine
Pontifical Mission for Palestine
The Pontifical Mission for Palestine is a special agency of the Holy See, founded by Pope Pius XII in 1949 to assist Palestinian refugees.Today, the Pontifical Mission is the Holy See's relief and development agency for the Middle East, and serves Israel, the Gaza Strip, the West Bank, Jordan,...
.
On February 7, 1966, Ryan was appointed the first Archbishop of Anchorage
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Anchorage
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Anchorage is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the northwestern United States, comprising several boroughs and census areas in the state of Alaska. It is led by a prelate archbishop which serves as pastor of the mother church,...
, Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
, by Pope Paul VI
Pope Paul VI
Paul VI , born Giovanni Battista Enrico Antonio Maria Montini , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church from 21 June 1963 until his death on 6 August 1978. Succeeding Pope John XXIII, who had convened the Second Vatican Council, he decided to continue it...
. He received his episcopal consecration
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
on the following March 25 from Cardinal Francis Spellman, with Bishops Edward Joseph Maginn and Edward Ernest Swanstrom
Edward Ernest Swanstrom
Edward E. Swanstrom was born on March 20, 1903, in New York City. His parents were Gustave and Mary Swanstrom. He graduated from Fordham University with a B.A. in 1924. While at Fordham he was a member of the varsity track team, captaining it his senior year. He studied for the priesthood at St...
serving as co-consecrators
Consecrator
Consecrator is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to designate a bishop who ordains a priest to the episcopal state. The term is often used in Eastern Rite Churches and in Anglican communities. The term "Principal Consecrator" is used to designate the primary bishop who ordains a new bishop...
. The Anchorage Archdiocese was erected following the 1964 Good Friday Earthquake, and was formed from the South Central area of the Diocese of Juneau
Roman Catholic Diocese of Juneau
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Juneau is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the northwestern United States, comprising the southeastern part of the state of Alaska. It is led by a prelate bishop which serves as pastor of the mother church, Cathedral of the...
. After nine years in Alaska, Ryan was named Coadjutor Archbishop
Coadjutor bishop
A coadjutor bishop is a bishop in the Roman Catholic or Anglican churches who is designated to assist the diocesan bishop in the administration of the diocese, almost as co-bishop of the diocese...
for the Military Vicariate and Titular Archbishop of Gabii
Gabii
Gabii was an ancient city of Latium, located due east of Rome along the Via Praenestina, which was in early times known as the Via Gabina....
on November 4, 1975.
After the death of Cardinal Terence Cooke, Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
elevated the Military Vicariate (which had had the same ordinary as the Archdiocese of New York
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York covers New York, Bronx, and Richmond counties in New York City , as well as Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester counties in New York state. There are 480 parishes...
) to the rank of an archdiocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
and named Ryan the first Archbishop for the Military Services on March 16, 1985. In this capacity, he provided for the pastoral and spiritual care of Catholics in the United States armed forces
United States armed forces
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...
and their families, residents of veterans hospitals and civilian government employees living abroad. He retired as Archbishop on May 14, 1991 and returned to his native Albany, where he later died at age 86.