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Name:    Ryan, Patrick John
Profession:  Clergy
Category:  Religion
Born/Started:     Feb. 20, 1831
Died/Ended:     Feb. 11, 1911
Description:    Patrick John Ryan was archbishop of St. Louis from 1872 to 1884. Known for his oratorical skills, his sermons regularly drew large crowds, made up not only of the regular members of the congregation, but of the most prominent people of all denominations from various parts of the city and more distant points.

Ryan was educated in his native town of Philadelphia. In his 12th year, he entered the select school of Mr. J. L. Naughton, Richmond Street, Dublin, where he began his Classical studies. In 1847 he was adopted for the diocese of St. Louis by Archbishop Peter Richard Kenrick. In 1852 he set out for St. Louis, where he was appointed to teach in the diocesan seminary at Carondelet. In 1853, he was ordained priest and was appointed assistant rector at the cathedral.

In 1866 Ryan attended the Second Plenary Council of Baltimore as one of Archbishop KenrickĀ“s theologians, and was one of three priests chosen to preach on that occasion. In 1868 he spent a year in Europe with Archbishop Kenrick. While there, Kenrick appointed him vicar-general and administrator of the diocese. On 14 February, 1872, he was consecrated titular bishop of Tricomia, and coadjutor bishop of St. Louis with right of succession. After serving faithfully and successfully in this capacity for 12 years, he was made titular Archbishop of Salamis.

In the meantime the See of Philadelphia had become vacant by the death of Archbishop Wood, and in June 1884, Archbishop Ryan was appointed to succeed him. He received doctor of laws degrees from Saint Louis University and the University of Pennsylvania. Under his guidance the Catholic Standard and Times of Philadelphia, his official newspaper, obtained a reputation unexcelled in Catholic journalism. Under his editorial direction, the American Catholic Quarterly Review preserved and extended the reputation that it had already made as a leading exponent of Catholic thought.



Reference
St. Louis Irish: an Unmatched Celtic Community

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