Jump to content

James Ryan (bishop)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

James Ryan
Bishop of Alton
SeeDiocese of Alton
In officeMay 1, 1888 -
July 2, 1923
PredecessorPeter Joseph Baltes
SuccessorJames Aloysius Griffin
Orders
OrdinationDecember 24, 1871
by William George McCloskey
ConsecrationMay 1, 1888
by John Lancaster Spalding
Personal details
Born(1848-06-17)June 17, 1848
DiedAlton, Illinois, US
DenominationRoman Catholic
EducationSt. Joseph's Colleges
Preston Park Seminary
James Ryan Portrait

James Ryan (June 17, 1848 – July 2, 1923) was an Irish-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Alton in Illinois from 1888 until his death in 1923.

Biography

[edit]

Early life

[edit]

James Ryan was born on June 17, 1848, in Thurles, County Tipperary in Ireland. When he was age seven, the family immigrated to the United States, settling in Louisville, Kentucky.[1] He studied at St. Thomas' and St. Joseph's Colleges in Bardstown, Kentucky, and at Preston Park Seminary in Louisville.[1]

Priesthood

[edit]

Ryan was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop William George McCloskey for what was then the Diocese of Louisville on December 24, 1871.[2] After his ordination, Ryan spent several years afterwards spent a few years as a missionary and teacher

In 1877, when John Lancaster Spalding was appointed to the new Diocese of Peoria in Illinois, Ryan incardinated, or transferred to that diocese.[1] After serving pastoral assignments in Illinois at Wataga and Danville, Ryan was named rector of St. Columba's Parish at Ottawa, Illinois, in 1881.[1]

Bishop of Alton

[edit]

On February 28, 1888, Ryan was appointed as the third bishop of the Diocese of Alton by Pope Leo XIII.[2] He received his episcopal consecration on May 1, 1888, from Bishop Spalding, with Bishops McCloskey and John Janssen serving as co-consecrators.[2]

During his 35-year-long tenure, Ryan established 40 new churches and six hospitals and increased the number of Catholics from 70,000 to over 87,000.[3] He held the first diocesan synod in February 1889.[1] He began raising funds for a new orphanage in 1919 but died before it was completed.[3]

James Ryan died in Alton on June 2, 1923, at age 75.[2]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e "Alton". Catholic Encyclopedia.
  2. ^ a b c d "Bishop James Ryan". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.[self-published source]
  3. ^ a b "History". SS. Peter & Paul Catholic Church. Archived from the original on 2010-04-25.
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Bishop of Alton
1888—1923
Succeeded by