Prayer Calendar: Deceased Priests who have ministered the Catholic Faith throughout Toowoomba and districts, 1864–2025, Compiled by Annie Carrett, Diocesan Archivist, 2001, Updated by Gabrielle Saide, Diocesan Archivist, 2023:
Rev Matthew Aloysius Ryan, died 9 Sep 1920

Matthew Ryan was born in Brisbane on 26th July 1858, the son of Michael and Anastasia Ryan (nee Mooney). As they lived near St James' School in Boundary Street, it is likely that he went there. He won a scholarship in 1873 to attend Brisbane Boys Grammar. A brother, John, also became a priest in the Brisbane Archdiocese. Seminary studies were undertaken at All Hallows, Dublin (3 years) and the Jesuit College at the University of Innsbruck (2 years), and on their completion he was ordained in 1885. He returned to Brisbane in November 1885 and served in the following places: Assistant Priest, Ipswich (1885-1891); Parish Priest, Stanthorpe (1914-1920). In his appointment to Ipswich he was to look after the Germans who had settled in the Lockyer Valley - hence his studies at Innsbruck gave him an understanding of the German language. He did take a trip to Europe, and in Leipzig bought a little peddle organ which may still be in use in the convent at Stanthorpe. From c1915 he was made Chancellor of the Brisbane Archdiocese. Pugh's list him in Stanthorpe in 1909, although this could be confusion with his brother. His death occurred very suddenly on a train returning home from Sydney.
(Ref. Brisbane Archives, Linane R88 and Pugh's)

Reproduced by permission of Bishop Ken Howell.

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Denis M. Long, Pioneer and Early Priests, Archdiocese of Brisbane, Deceased or retired by 1929, 2021, p 161:
Fr Matthew Ryan

Matthew Ryan was born on 26 July 1858 as the eldest in a family of eight boys and three girls. His parents were Michael and Anastacia (nee Mooney) Ryan who lived in McConnell Street in Spring Hill. The next born in the family was John who also became a priest of the Archdiocese.

Matthew was educated in catholic schools in Brisbane. At St James' school his headmaster was Fr James Horan later parish priest of Warwick. He and his brother John were foundation pupils of St Joseph's college when the Christian Brothers first came to Brisbane.

When Matthew chose to study for the priesthood Bishop Quinn sent him with Thomas Hayes to All Hallows College in Dublin. When Robert Dunne became bishop he moved Matthew and Thomas to complete their studies at the Jesuit College at Innsbruck in Austria. The bishop wanted priests who could speak German for the many Catholic German settlers.

Matthew with Thomas Hayes attended the priestly ordination of Matthew's brother John in the Roman Basilica of St John Lateran on Holy Saturday 1885. They served John's first Mass the following day.(1) Matthew and Thomas returned to Innsbruck to be ordained on 22 July. These three, the first Queensland born priests, returned to Brisbane later that year.

Fr Matthew's first appointment was to Ipswich where he served as a curate to Dean Horan for 22 years as. Here he was very active, especially with the youth. The St Mary's Catholic Young Men's society gave him a rousing farewell when, after thirteen years, he went on a holiday to New Zealand. He had revived this society when it seemed to be dying. One speaker at the function was the younger Roman ordained curate, Fr James Duhig.(2)

Fr Matthew became parish priest of Stanthorpe in 1910. He remained a close friend of James Duhig. When James Duhig became Archbishop of Brisbane in January 1917, he appointed Fr Matthew as chancellor of the Archdiocese. In Stanthorpe Fr Matthew planned to erect a very handsome new church. Archbishop Duhig laid the foundation stone prior to Fr Matthew's death.

About 1919 Father Matthew had a severe paralytic stroke when cranking his motor car. One Stanthorpe resident said he was given up as dead. He only partially recovered. Early in 1920 he went to Lewisham hospital in Sydney for special treatment. On 8 September he left Sydney by train accompanied by his brother John who was at the time parish priest of Pittsworth. At Newcastle, Matthew had a second stroke. It was decided to bring him on to Queensland. He was made comfortable but died early on the morning on 9 September when the train was a few miles from Armidale.(3)

His body was brought to Brisbane. Archbishop Duhig presided at the Requiem Mass on the Saturday morning. Thirty two priests were in attendance. The Archbishop officiated at the funeral rites following the Mass and at the burial liturgy at Nudgee cemetery.

Footnotes
1. Brian Grenier CFC, Terracian, May 2016, p. 6.
2. Queensland Times, Ipswich Herald and General Advertiser, 27 Sep 1898, p. 6.
3. Catholic Press, Sydney, 16 Sep 1920, p. 24.

Reproduced by permission of Fr Denis Long.