A Mass of Christian Burial for 86-year old Father Thomas Ryan, who served in various roles in Catholic churches and schools in the Panhandle in the 1960s and 70s, will be held Sat, June 29, 2024, at 10:30 CT at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Grand Island, NE. Bishop The Most Rev Joseph G. Hanefeldt will preside with the priest of the Diocese of Grand Island concelebrating.
The funeral mass will be livestreamed at: www.youtube.com/@blessedsacramentGI/streams.
Interment will be Monday, July 1, at 11:00 in the Kearney Cemetery, Kearney, NE.
Visitation will be Friday, June 28, from 4–7:00 at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church with a vigil service at 7:00.
Memorials are suggested to Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Grand Island or St James Catholic Church in Kearney. Your thoughts and prayers may be given online at curranfuneralchapel.com under Fr Ryan’s obituary.
The Rev Thomas A Ryan was born June 20, 1938, in Kearney, NE the son of Gerald M. and Bernice (Dolan) Ryan. He died Saturday, June 22, 2024, at Grand Island Regional Medical Center.
Father Ryan grew up in Kearney and attended St James Elementary and graduated from Kearney Public High School. In the fall of 1956, began his Seminary studies at St. Thomas Seminary in Denver, CO.
He received his MA in Religious Education from St Thomas and was ordained to the priesthood in St. Mary’s Cathedral by Bishop John L Paschang on May 21, 1964.
Father Ryan served as an assistant at St Luke’s parish in Ogallala and at St Patrick’s parish in Chadron. While in Chadron, he completed his MS in Education – Guidance Counselor from Chadron State College.
He was appointed assistant at St. Ann’s parish in Lexington and Superintendent of St Ann’s Junior-Senior High School in August of 1968, but returned to the Panhandle in 1970 to substitute for Fr Ed Cortney in Scottsbluff.
Father Ryan assisted with the Neighborhood Youth Corps program, then was appointed Superintendent of St Agnes Academy in Alliance. A year later, he was made Superintendent of St Patrick School in Sidney and Assistant Pastor at St Patrick’s Parish in Sidney for weekends and later Associate Pastor.
In June of 1974, Father Ryan became associate pastor of Blessed Sacrament Church in Grand Island and completed a Matrimonial Law course at Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.
He was appointed pastor of St Michael’s Church in Spalding in 1977 and served on the Tribunal and as Chaplain for the Catholic Daughters of America in Spalding. He was reappointed Judge of the Marriage Tribunal of the Diocese in September of 1978.
In February of 1980, Father Ryan was made Administrator Pro-tem for Sacred Heart parish in Greeley and missions of Visitation Parish in O’Connor and St Patrick in Scotia. He was also Vice Officialis of the Tribunal and was appointed Diocesan Superintendent of Schools in September of 1981.
Father Ryan later became Chaplain of Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney and served as pastor of St Anthony’s Church in Farwell and St Joseph’s Mission in Elba. He reappointed in 1983 as Synodal Judge and Vice Officialis for the Diocesan Tribunal.
Father Ryan served five years as a member-at-large of the Presbyteral Council and served as Diocesan Vocation Director. He received a Specialist Degree in Educational Administration from Kearney State College in 1986, and completed graduate work in Canon Law at Catholic University of America.
In 1991 he was appointed pastor of St. Josaphat’s Church in Loup City and Priest Reconciler/Counselor for Project Rachel. In 1993. St Mary’s in Rockville changed from mission parish of Ravenna to St Josaphat in Loup City with Fr Ryan as Pastor.
In 1996, he was appointed pastor of Cathedral of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Grand Island and Diocesan Moderator for Grand Island Central Catholic Jr-Sr High School.
In 2005, Bishop Dendinger named him Defender of the Bond, Promoter of Justice and appointed him pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Ord and Sacred Heart in Burwell.
Fr Ryan retired in Grand Island in 2013, but continued as Substitute Defender of the Bond. He celebrated his 60th Jubilee of Ordination to the Priesthood just last month at Blessed Sacrament Church in Grand Island.
Fr. Ryan enjoyed golfing and sharing his love of the Lord with everyone he met. He especially enjoyed his time spent in Mesquite, NV assisting at La Virgin de La Guadalupe Catholic Church.
He is survived by numerous cousins.
He is preceded in death by his parents and his brother Ed.
Curran Funeral Chapel is assisting the family of The Rev Thomas Ryan.