James Hugh Ryan | |
|---|---|
| Archbishop of Omaha Titular Bishop of Modra | |
_Ryan_LCCN2016876930.jpg) | |
| Church | Catholic Church |
| Archdiocese | Archdiocese of Omaha |
| Installed | August 3, 1935 |
| Term ended | November 23, 1947 |
| Predecessor | Joseph Francis Rummel |
| Successor | Gerald Thomas Bergan |
| Other post | Rector of theCatholic University of America |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | June 5, 1909 |
| Consecration | October 25, 1934 by Joseph Chartrand |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1886-12-15)December 15, 1886 Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. |
| Died | November 23, 1947(1947-11-23) (aged 60) |
| Education | Duquesne University Mount St. Mary's Seminary of the West Urban College of Propaganda Roman Academy Gerald Thomas Bergan |
James Hugh Ryan (December 15, 1886 – November 23, 1947) was an Americanprelate of theRoman Catholic Church. He served asrector of theCatholic University of America (1928–1935) and as bishop and later archbishop of theArchdiocese of Omaha (1935–1947).
James Ryan was born on December 15, 1886, inIndianapolis,Indiana, to John Marshall and Brigid (née Rogers) Ryan.[1] John Ryan worked as superintendent of motor power of theLake Erie and Western Railroad. James Ryan attendedDuquesne University inPittsburgh,Pennsylvania, andMount St. Mary's Seminary of the West inCincinnati,Ohio.[1] He then went to Rome, where he earnedBachelor of Sacred Theology (1906) andDoctor of Sacred Theology degrees (1909) from theUrban College of Propaganda and aPh.D. from theRoman Academy (1908).[1]
Ryan wasordained to the priesthood in Rome on June 5, 1909.[2] Following his return to Indiana, he was appointed chaplain of theSisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods in Indiana and professor of psychology atSt. Mary-of-the-Woods College inSaint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, from 1911 to 1921.[1]
Ryan then began his career at theCatholic University of America inWashington, D.C., where he served as instructor inphilosophy (1922–26) and associate professor of philosophy (1926–28). In July 1928 he was named the fifthrector of the university.[1] During his administration, he reorganized and rebuilt the university, also instituting nursing courses and a School of Social Work and expanding thegraduate school to admit 800 students.[3]
Ryan became a well-known and powerful figure in Washington.[3] He was once received by PresidentFranklin D. Roosevelt, and his send-off party was attended by the likes of AmbassadorHans Luther, Assistant Attorney GeneralJoseph B. Keenan, JusticePierce Butler, Postmaster GeneralJames Farley, SecretaryHenry A. Wallace, and CanonAnson Phelps Stokes.[3] Ryan served as the first executive secretary of theNational Catholic Welfare Council (1920–28), and was raised to the rank ofdomestic prelate in 1927 and ofprotonotary apostolic in 1929.[1]
On August 15, 1933, Ryan was appointedtitular bishop of Modra byPope Pius XI, in acknowledgment of his accomplishments as rector.[2][4] He received hisepiscopalconsecration on October 25, 1933, from BishopJoseph Chartrand, with BishopsThomas Edmund Molloy andJoseph Ritter serving asco-consecrators, at theNational Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.[2]
Following the appointment of BishopJoseph Rummel toArchbishop of New Orleans in March 1935, Ryan was named the fifth bishop of the Diocese of Omaha on August 3, 1935.[2] In 1939, he was sent to South America to "develop cultural relationships" on behalf of theAmerican Catholic Church and theU.S. Department of State.[5] Following his return, he declared, "The foundation has been laid for a 'Catholic front' to protect democracy in this hemisphere."[6]
When theDiocese of Omaha was elevated to the rank of anarchdiocese, Ryan became its firstArchbishop on August 4, 1945.[2][7] He died two years later from aheart attack at age 60.[8]
| Academic offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by |  Rector of CUA 1928–1935 | Succeeded by |
| Catholic Church titles | ||
| Preceded by | Archbishop of Omaha 1935–1947 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
