RIP: Tributes paid to New York priest who had strong Tipperary-roots

Tributes are being paid online to Fr Patrick Ryan who passed away in the care of the Jesuit Community in New York on August 10.

Born in Queens on Aug. 11, 1939, Father Ryan grew up in an “extremely Irish environment,” he said in a 2012 interview at Fordham. His mother, Nancy (born Anna Kennedy), hailed from upper Manhattan. His father, Patrick “Paddy Lacken” Ryan, was a member of the Irish Republican Army who emigrated from County Tipperary and died at age 45 when Father Ryan was 4.

Father Ryan entered the Society of Jesus in 1957 following his graduation from Regis High School and continued his studies at Fordham, earning his bachelor’s in 1963 and Licentiate in Philosophy in 1964 from Shrub Oak, the former Jesuit seminary, and a master’s in English from the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences in 1965. He later earned a Ph.D. in the comparative history of religion from Harvard in 1975.

He is predeceased by his parents Paddy and Anna Ryan (Lacken), sister Mary and brother in law Liam O ‘Reilly. Deeply regretted by his nephew Edmund O’ Reilly, his first cousins Patk Treacey and John Kennedy U.S.A. , Biddy Hannon, Limerick, Séamus Ryan Lacken, Birdhill, and Máiréad Lloyd, Moyne, many cousins, friends and the Jesuit community.

Tributes have been paid online in recent days with some of them as follows:

Fordham President Emeritus Joseph McShane, S.J., whose term overlapped with Father Ryan’s later years at the University, recalled his diverse talents as a powerful preacher, Islamic scholar, and remarkable linguist.

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“Perhaps the best way of describing him would be to say that he was a man after the hearts of Saint Ignatius Loyola and Saint Francis Xavier and was therefore a citizen of the world, Jesuit style,” said Father McShane, referring to the more than 50 years that Father Ryan split between Ghana, Nigeria, and Fordham, where he was remembered for his interreligious scholarship, his camaraderie with students, and his wicked sense of humor.

Another person wrote: "Sincere Condolences to all the friends and relatives of Fr. Patrick Ryan (Lacken) and to his Jesuit Community.

"I had the pleasure of making his acquaintance at a family funeral in New York some years ago.

"Fr. Patrick was a scholarly man who wore his learning lightly and remained connected to his family and friends."

His requiem Mass will take place on Saturday August 16th at 10 a.m (US time), 3pm (Irish time) in University Church, Fordham, New York.