Rev. Thomas A. Ryan

Rev. Thomas A. Ryan

Rev. Thomas A. Ryan, 86, of Grand Island, NE, died Saturday, June 22, 2024, at Grand Island Regional Medical Center. Mass of Christian burial will be Saturday, June 29, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. Bishop Most Rev. Joseph G. Hanefeldt will preside with priest of the Diocese of Grand Island concelebrating. Interment will be Monday, July 1, 2024, at 11 a.m. in the Kearney Cemetery, Kearney, NE. Visitation will be Friday, June 28, 2024, from 4 – 7 p.m. at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church with a vigil service at 7 p.m. The funeral mass will be livestreamed at: www.youtube.com/@blessedsacramentGI/streams. 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 at www.curranfuneralchapel.com under Fr. Ryan's obituary. Curran Funeral Chapel is assisting the family.

Fr. Ryan was born June 20, 1938, in Kearney, NE the son of Gerald M. and Bernice (Dolan) Ryan. He grew up in Kearney attending St. James Elementary and graduating from Kearney Public High School. In the fall of 1956 Fr. Ryan 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. He 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. In August of 1968 he was appointed assistant at St. Ann's parish in Lexington and Superintendent of St. Ann's Junior-Senior High School. In 1970 he substituted for Fr. Ed Cortney in Scottsbluff and assisted with Neighborhood Youth Corps program and was appointed Superintendent of St. Agnes Academy in Alliance. In 1971 he was Superintendent of St. Patrick School in Sidney and Assistant Pastor to St. Patrick's Parish for weekends and in 1973 became associate pastor. In June of 1974 he was associate pastor of Blessed Sacrament Church in Grand Island, completing 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 was 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 he was Administrator Pro-tem for Sacred Heart parish in Greeley and missions of Visitation Parish in O'Connor and St. Patrick in Scotia and was Vice Officialis of the Tribunal. He was appointed Diocesan Superintendent of Schools in September of 1981 and later Chaplain of Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. He was pastor of St. Anthony's Church in Farwell and St. Joesph's Mission in Elba and in 1983 reappointed Synodal Judge and Vice Officialis for the Diocesan Tribunal. He 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. He was 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. He was Diocesan Moderator for Grand Island Central Catholic Jr.-Sr. High School. In 2005 he was named Defender of the Bond, Promoter of Justice by Bishop Dendinger. In 2005 he was appointed pastor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Ord and Sacred Heart in Burwell. In 2013 Fr. Ryan retired in Grand Island, continuing as Substitute Defender of the Bond. He celebrated his 60th Jubilee of Ordination to the Priesthood in May of 2024 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.