Dear Editor: The recent death of Msgr. James Ryan filled me with an overflowing feeling of satisfaction at how he had lived his priesthood with profound kindness, gentleness and charitable love for everyone. Msgr. Ryan’s natural kindness was his most admired trait.
I was assigned as parochial vicar to St. Fortunata Church from 1989 to 1994 where Msgr. Ryan was pastor and greatly loved by his parishioners. When I arrived there as a young priest, I found life at a slow pace and received his blessings to involve parishioners actively in the affairs of the church to my utmost joy.
He was also supportive of me at the beginning stage of my research on Msgr. Bernard J. Quinn, after being affected by his legacy at St. Peter Claver Church, my first and previous assignment. Msgr. Ryan shared with me his own happiness as a seminarian at Immaculate Conception Seminary in Huntington, when he volunteered as a counselor with other seminarians, working at the summer camp for inner city children that Msgr. Quinn had established on the expansive grounds of his Little Flower orphanage in Wading River, L.I.
Despite Msgr. Ryan’s legendary goodness, several years ago he was viciously attacked, with his face punched to a bloody pulp, on the sidewalk of the church by a man who was angered that the priest had no money to give him. Fortunately, his face healed completely after a short hospitalization.
The criminal escaped summarily execution from the enraged members of the community, as his sister turned him over to the police and he was put away for many years in prison. Msgr. Ryan adamantly dismissed any thought of a reassignment after his horrific experience for he was bound to his people like in marriage, for better or worse, and continued serving them as their gentle shepherd beyond his retirement.
He suffered intense, excruciating pain in the latter years of his life and had to receive nursing care at the Little Sisters of the Poor Residence in Queens Village. Perhaps his birthday on Sept. 14, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, had given him the grace to make up in his flesh the suffering that “… is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church…” (Col 1:24)
I visited Msgr. Ryan on his last birthday and met a few members of St. Fortunata Church and members of his family visiting him. He was as to be expected, effusive in his graciousness to us visitors and was shrouded in a countenance of serenity. Father Ryan, as he was commonly and popularly known, happily departed this life on June 20 for his heavenly exaltation.
MSGR. PAUL W. JERVIS
Rosedale
I had the pleasure of knowing Fr. Ryan for about 20 years, as my late mother lived in St. Fortunata’s. He celebrated my father’s funeral Mass. I can still recall his warm, compassionate homily for that Mass. He was an exemplary priest, and the kindest person you’d every meet. We exchanged letters and cards for years; I went to visit him a few times and after he had been assaulted and testified against the aggressor. He said nothing bitter of his assailant. He is a modern day, uncanonized saint.
I had the pleasure to visit Fr. Ryan 2 years ago with my Daughter Gina and my two Grand-children. He was such a part of my family. He never forget my mother who he used to bring Holy communion He was there when my mother died to offer his comfort. My son Charles served in the Mass with him as an altar boy. My other sons was planning to visit him. I am really saddened by his death that I just learned of . :He is a saint. May God received him in his eternal Glory