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From: "Cathy Joynt Labath" <>
Subject: [IA-IRISH] Bio of Rt. Rev. Roger Ryan
Date: Thu, 22 Aug 2002 18:02:59 -0500

History of Dubuque County, Iowa; Weston A. Goodspeed, ed. by F. T. Oldt and
P. J. Quigley; Chicago: Goodspeed Hist. Assoc. 1911

The Rt. Rev. Roger Ryan, vicar general of the archdiocese of Dubuque,
and on whom also the high church title of monsignor was bestowed in 1896, is
a native of Cashel, County Limerick, Ireland, and the son of John and Ellen
(Coffey) Ryan, whose ancestry can be traced in a direct line for a period of
1,500 years. Both father and mother lived and died in their native country.
Father Ryan was born on April 6, 1842, and after attending the parochial
schools finished his scholastic training with a six years' course in Mount
Melleray College, County Waterford, Ireland. He early determined to study
for the priesthood and to spend his life in the service of the Master. In
1868 he crossed the Atlantic ocean to America, and on March 13, 1869, was
formally ordained to the priesthood. Shortly thereafter he came to Dubuque,
Iowa, and for a time was associated with St. Raphael's Cathedral, later
being transferred to St. Patrick's parish, where he has since continued and
become endeared to the hearts of all who know him and listen to his able
ministrations and teachings. Dubuque county owes a good deal to the efforts
of Father Ryan. He not only built the imposing St. Patrick's Church edifice,
pastorage and school, but was one of the most instrumental in bringing about
the erection of St. Joseph's College, and institution whose influence in the
behalf of education and moral uplifting has been felt all over the Middle
West.


Cathy Joynt Labath
The Irish in Iowa
http://www.celticcousins.net/irishiniowa/index.htm

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