Father Patrick W. Ryan ordained by Bishop Richard G. Henning on June 24, 2023, in the Cathedral of SS. Peter & Paul

PROVIDENCE — The rain falling upon the roof of the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul on June 24 could not dampen the joyful spirit of those within as more than 50 priests, deacons and seminarians, followed by three bishops, processed into the nearly 135-year-old cathedral ahead of soon-to-be Father Patrick Ryan while strains of “O God Beyond All Praising” rose to the lofty rafters.
Most Rev. Richard G. Henning, D.D., S.T.D., presided over the ordination, with more than two dozen members of the ordinand’s family, along with many friends and former college classmates on hand to witness the blessed event. Bishop Emeritus Thomas J. Tobin, D.D., who accepted Father Ryan into the seminary, concelebrated Mass with Bishop Henning, as well, along with former Auxiliary Bishop Robert C. Evans.
In the homily for his first priesthood ordination in the Diocese of Providence, Bishop Henning spoke directly to Deacon Ryan in an earnest and pastoral manner, calling him by his first name, as he said that St. Patrick had “been on my mind as I prepared for today.”
He spoke about the Apostle of Ireland, whose slavery eventually led to the conversion of the Irish people, pointing out that St. Patrick, along with early apostles such as St. Paul, considered himself “a slave of Jesus Christ.” Similarly, when taking his vows, a priest is no longer his own.
“The Scriptures and our traditions of prayer speak of ‘belonging’ to Christ, ‘obeying’ the Lord, ‘waiting upon’ the Lord, submitting to his judgment. This intentionally provocative language surrounds, of course, the truth of the One who is Lord. For he who is the son of the eternal, all-powerful God might rightly demand our submission, that we serve his will.”
In being obedient to his father by laying down his life on the cross, Jesus gave the world the ultimate example of true freedom, Bishop Henning explained.
“No one has ever been or ever will be more free than Jesus Christ, in that trusting and total gift of himself for the salvation of the world, and there my brother, Deacon Patrick, is the key to the mystery of this moment in your life.”
“Today you imitate the Lord Jesus in his own gift of his will in trust to our Heavenly Father. You make it clear today, as strange as that language sounds, that you are a slave of the Lord Jesus, that you give yourself to him who gave himself to set you free.”
Bishop Henning stressed, “This is not cruel exploitation. It is not the Lord using you for his own benefit. He does not command you for any other reason than to bring you close to his heart, and in a very real sense, closer to your truest self: a man made by love, in love and for love.”
As joyful as it was, the bishop’s homily also came with a warning that in the years to come, the new priest will face “sacrifice and toil” and “moments of desolation and loneliness, not unlike your namesake” that would test his faith. Bishop Henning left him with a prayer, though, “that in the midst of all that, whatever may come, you will always remember this moment and your free and trusting and joyful offering of yourself, a slave of Christ Jesus, the one who loves you to the end, the one who will give you purpose and meaning and joy beyond measure, the one who is your Lord and master and looks upon you now with love and calls you his friend.”
Following the homily, Deacon Ryan, in the Promise of the Elect, expressed his resolve to carry out the office of the priesthood in accord with the mind of Christ and of the Church, under the direction of the bishop.
He then knelt before Bishop Henning, placing his joined hands between those of the bishop, as he made a promise of obedience.
The Litany of Supplication followed, in which Deacon Ryan prostrated himself before the altar, a reminder that service to God and his holy people requires genuine humility in the example of Christ.
The most ancient part of the Rite of Ordination to the Priesthood followed in which Bishop Henning, in the form of the Apostles, then laid his hands upon the ordinand while reciting the Prayer of Ordination. It was at this moment that Father Ryan was ordained by God as a priest forever.
At that point, the other priests present stepped forward and laid their hands upon Father Ryan as a sign of their sharing in the one priesthood of Jesus Christ.
Assisting Father Ryan in vesting as a priest for the first time was Father Paul Grenon, pastor of St. Joseph Parish in North Scituate. It was Father Grenon who provided spiritual guidance to Father Ryan when he served as pastor of SS. John and Paul Parish in Coventry, the new priest’s home parish.
After vesting, Bishop Henning anointed the hands of Father Ryan with the oil of Sacred Chrism in order that they be consecrated to sanctify the people of God.
The bishop then handed over the paten holding the bread and chalice containing a mixture of water and wine to Father Ryan while offering profound words that impressed upon the newly ordained the essential nature of priestly service.
The bishop and all priests presented the Fraternal Kiss of Peace as a gesture of support to Father Ryan to symbolize that he is now included among the presbyteral college in union under the bishop.
As the Liturgy of the Eucharist concluded, Father Ryan imparted the traditional first priestly blessing to the bishops and then to his parents.
Father Ryan, who processed both into and out of his Ordination Mass with a peaceful smile and a look of deep contentment on his face, told Rhode Island Catholic afterward that he will forever be grateful to all who shepherded him along the path as he pursued his priestly vocation.
“It’s a wonderful day in my life,” Father Ryan said after taking a photo behind the altar with Bishop Henning.
“I’m very grateful to my family and to God, the giver of all good gifts, and to the Church and the bishops, Bishop Henning, Bishop Tobin and Bishop Evans, for their kindness and generosity as they walked me through these years. I look forward to serving the people of God and the diocese.”
Father Ryan’s aunt, Sister Patricia Ryan, a Maryknoll Sister who has been missioned to Peru for the last 52 of her 54 years as a nun, made the trip to see her nephew ordained a priest.
Although she has lived away for decades while ministering to the indigenous peoples of the Andes Mountains in Peru’s Lake Titicaca region, Sister Patricia has fond memories of the many visits she made to see her brother, Doug, his wife and their five children, with Patrick being the youngest.
“Patrick is a person of integrity, and has been for his whole life, from when he was a little kid until today, and he will continue to be into the future,” she said. “He’s always living the words of Micah in the Bible, who says ‘all I ask of you is to act justly, love tenderly and walk humbly with your God.’ And I think that depicts who Patrick is.”
She said that the day was not only a very special blessing for the whole Ryan family, but for everyone else gathered, also.
“Patrick has a big heart, he’s a very compassionate person.”
Several friends from Patrick’s years as a student at Boston University, where his involvement at the Catholic Center on campus was integral in his pursuit of a priestly vocation, were among a long line of the faithful waiting to receive a first blessing from Father Ryan during a collation in the cathedral hall.
“I think it’s incredibly beautiful to witness Father Patrick entering into his vocation, it’s a gift,” said Samantha Austin. “And he’s such a level, holy, humble man. It’s beautiful to see our B.U. community come together to witness it.”
Molly Agostinelli, another friend who also served with him at the Catholic Center, said she would not have missed this day for anything.
“He’s such a solid man of faith and a friend, too. In our community [at B.U.], we’re so blessed that it’s just grown and expanded and it’s wonderful to see the Church continuing to grow through our own friendships.”
Father Michael Woolley, pastor of SS. John and Paul Church in Coventry, noted that Father Ryan is now the third native parishioner to enter the priesthood, with himself being the first and Father Christopher Mahar the second.
He recalled his father serving as an usher at 11:30 a.m. Mass on Sundays, where he would always ensure the Ryan family had a pew in close proximity to the altar.
“When the Ryans came in with their five kids he would say, ‘I’ve got a seat for you.’ He would have a seat for them when Patrick was a little kid. I think Patrick is going to be a wonderful priest, we’re very proud of him and all the parish is,” Father Woolley said.
Anne Ryan was overjoyed at watching her son be ordained to the priesthood, and especially appreciated how Bishop Henning tailored his homily to her son’s namesake saint.
“It was a beautiful homily, with Bishop Henning making it so personal about St. Patrick. I think Patrick did everything right and he’ll do fine. We’re just happy for him and that everything went so well.”
Doug Ryan said the whole ceremony was glorious.
“I was in tears half the time because it was so touching,” he said.
He said it didn’t surprise him when his son decided to enter the priesthood.
“He was always such a quiet, introspective young man. I think he’ll make a wonderful priest. It was just so wonderful to see it all come to fruition today. It’s been a long road and now he’s there.”
Michael Santos, a seminarian of the diocese who will continue his formation this fall at St. John Seminary in Brighton, Massachusetts, was filled with joy to serve as an attendant to Father Ryan at his ordination.
“My Lord Jesus gave us this day and my big brother is a priest now. My joy is too great to say anything more than that,” he said.