ANZCC notes: Xavier = name in religion?
One of three brothers who became priests:
Phil 1835-1908
Patrick 1843-1913
John 1856-1880.

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Bathurst, Freeman's Journal, Sydney, 10 November 1866, p 706, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article115451513:

(From our own Correspondent.) His Lordship Dr. Quinn left here on Saturday morning for the metropolis, on urgent business. Before his departure, however, he made the following appointments:—[...] Rev. Philip Ryan to assist Father McGuinn at Carcoar; [...] The rev. gentlemen above mentioned will leave during the week for their respective destinations. [...]

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Presentation to the Rev. Philip P. Ryan, at Cowra, Freeman's Journal, Sydney, 18 January 1873, p 5, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article128809178:

For some time past several ladies of Father Ryan's congregation have been collecting in order to present him with a Suite of Robes, to be used in the discharge of his sacerdotal functions, and on Sunday, 5th instant, a very handsome address, accompanied by a beautiful alb, surplice and rich corded silk soutanne, was presented to the rev. gentleman. After Mass, Father Ryan delivered an extempore address, and seemed to be much affected by the kindness of his friends.

The alb is very handsome, and from the waist down is made of rich Limerick lace—the same that was exhibited at one of the stalls of the bazaar for the sisters of the Good Shepherd, recently held in Sydney. The surplice is also elaborately trimmed with lace. The Soutanne is of rich black corded silk. The whole cost about £30, and reflects great credit on the lady-collectors, the chief promoters being Mrs. Challacombe, Mrs. Daley, and Mrs. Arkins. All the articles were made in Sydney, and the work beautifully executed.

At the back of the alb the following inscription is embroidered:—
"Presented to
"The Rev. Philip P. Ryan, of Carcoar,
"by the ladies of Cowra."

[Copy of Address.]
"Cowra, 5th January, 1873.
"To the Reverend Philip P. Ryan,
"Roman Catholic Pastor, Carcoar.

"Rev. and Dear Sir,—The ladies forming a portion of your congregation at Cowra are desirous of approaching you on this, the first Sunday of the New Year, to assure you of the great respect and veneration they feel for you, and their appreciation of the untiring zeal and truly Christian feeling evinced by you on all occasions in discharging the duties of your sacred ministry.

"The beautiful Church you have had erected at Carcoar, and the Convent now in progress, will be lasting monuments of your energy and zeal for religion, and of the generous and liberal spirit with which your parishioners responded to your request for funds to pay for these works.

"We beg your acceptance of an alb, surplice, and soutanne, as a slight mark of our affection and respect, and hope that God may long spare you to be our Pastor, and to wear these robes in the exercise of your Priestly functions.
"We remain, with great respect,
"Signed on behalf of the ladies of your congregation at Cowra."
[Here follow the signatures.]

[Reply.]
"My Dear Friends,—I receive your very kind address and beautiful presents with feelings of the greatest gratitude. I certainly feel at a loss for words to express how very much I am affected at this expression of your esteem and approbation of my labours among you as your spiritual guide and Pastor for a period now nearly seven years. I fear your kindness may have overrated my exertions ; but this I can assure you, that your advancement in piety and every spiritual grace has always been the dearest wish of my heart.

"You have alluded to the Church which has been built, and the Convent (which I hope soon to see completed) at Carcoar. Although this has been done during my time in the parish, yet, the great merit is due to my people, who came forward so liberally with their means to assure you, that before very long, I hope to see commenced at Cowra a suitable building to receive some of the good Sisters of St. Joseph, where your children will get the advantage of a good secular and religious education under these good Sisters, and the cause of religion advanced in every way in this portion of my parish.

"In conclusion, I beg to thank you most sincerely for the beautiful alb, surplice, and costly silk soutanne. It was a kind and religious thought in you to select these robes to be used in the performance of my Priestly duties. I value them more than any money gift you could have given me, and shall always think with pleasure that it was at Cowra I received the first testimonial presented to me since I entered on my ministry. When wearing them I will always be reminded of your affection and kindness.

"Wishing you a "Happy New Year," and that God may bless you and your families,
"I remain,
"Your affectionate Friend and Pastor.
(Signed) "Philip P. Ryan."

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Carcoar. (From our Correspondent.) Presentation to the Rev. P. P. Ryan, Freeman's Journal, Sydney, 19 December 1874, p 3, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article115475970:

On Sunday 15th instant, the Catholics of Carcoar presented the Rev. Phillip Ryan, P.P., with an address and testimonial as a mark of personal esteem and love, and in recognition of his services in the cause of religion and education. About 200 of the parishioners were present. Your readers will remember that the proposal to get up a testimonial to Father Ryan, was made only very recently. Subscription lists have been opened for a very few weeks, and yet it was announced on Sunday that over 500 sovereigns had been subscribed for the purpose. The presentation of this magnificent sum was made by Mr. Fagan, who suitably expressed the pleasure he felt on the occasion. The address, of which the following is a copy, was read by Mr. John Cody:—

"To the Rev. Philip P. Ryan, Carcoar.
"Rev. and Dear Sir,—It is pleasant at all times to recognize in any person real Christian worth, but it is doubly so when we can recognize it in those we revere. Your priestly virtues and devotion to the Church of which you are a pastor have gained for you the love of your parishioners. Your gentlemanly bearing and moderation have secured for you the lasting friendship of many belonging to other denominations.

"We can assure you, Rev. Father, that we have noticed with feelings of admiration the efforts you have made in the cause of religion and education; and we appreciate the interest you have taken in all matters relating to the improvement of this district. Nearly nine years have elapsed since you came amongst us as our first resident priest, during which time your work has been arduous; but your sense of duty and love for your fellow-beings have enabled you to overcome almost insurmountable difficulties.

"We now look back with feelings of admiration and astonishment at what you have accomplished during that time in Carcoar, especially our beautiful convent, the pride of our little town, which none but a zealous and energetic clergyman, as you have proved yourself to be, would have attempted in so small and thinly-populated locality.

"What adds considerably to the pleasure we experience on the present occasion is, that this is not a farewell address, but a special token of our appreciation of your real worth and many amiable qualities.

"As a mark of our esteem, and in recognition of your services in the cause of religion, education, and in all things relating to the welfare of this district in general, we desire to present you with a small testimonial, and therefore beg your acceptance of the accompanying purse of sovereigns.

"Praying that God may spare you long to labour amongst us,

"We remain, rev. and dear sir, your grateful, devoted parishioners and sincere friends.

In reply the Rev. Father Ryan spoke as follows:—

"My Dear Friends,—With deep gratitude I thank you for your affectionate address, and for your princely gift.

"I had no need of this extraordinary demonstration to assure me of your affection and esteem. You have proved over and over again, by a thousand nameless acts of kindness, the warmth of your feelings in my regard.

"You are good enough, in the overflow of your gratitude to ascribe to me the whole credit of the good that has been effected for education and religion in this district. But I could have done little indeed, without your earnest and active co-operation. I might engage from the architect the plans of a church, a convent or a school, but I could have done no more, if you had not with unexampled generosity provided the means for carrying out these good works. If, then, I have been successful, the merit of the success is wholly due to your noble Catholic spirit.

"When I was ordained a priest of the Church of God, I undertook to labour, at every cost, in season and out of season, for the spiritual welfare of the souls placed under my care by my ecclesiastical superior. I have tried to fulfil my mission in this respect to the best of my poor ability. It is only the duty of every good priest, and for doing so I can deserve no special recognition at your hands.

I cannot but rejoice that I have earned the friendship and good will of many of other denominations, for it has always been my aim to foster, as far as in my power, a good feeling among all classes of this little community and I have ever been the determined enemy of the narrow-minded bigotry that would set class against class and creed against creed. As a priest I am bound to teach and practise the beautiful doctrine of universal charity. I have sought to make all the members of my flock good and faithful Catholics, and this they cannot be without practising that charity which knows no bounds. In accepting your generous present dear friends, I am glad to think with you that this is not an hour for parting.

This extraordinary mark of esteem which speaks more eloquently of your noble generosity than of merit on my part, will stimulate me, with God's assistance and your unceasing prayers, to labour still more strenuously for your spiritual welfare, and for a yet more general exercise of Christian charity in this district.

Begging of God to pour down His choicest blessings upon you and yours, again, dear friend, I thank you.

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St. Mary's Building Fund, Freeman's Journal, Sydney, 17 April 1875, p 11, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article115475042:

The usual weekly meeting of the collectors and subscribers to St. Mary's Building Fund was held in the seminary on Sunday night last after Vespers, Dean McCarthy in the chair. Among those present were the Rev. P. Ryan, P.P., Carcoar, Rev. Father Mahony, Rev. Father Sheridan, and Messrs. James Mullins, J.P., E.J. Hollingdale, James Curtis, and J.C. Blanchard. The chairman introduced the Rev. P. Ryan of Carcoar to the meeting, and in doing so recounted the many things he had done for the spread of religion in his diocese. He had built a very fine church at a cost of £7000, a convent, and many other buildings such as schools, &c. The Rev. Father Ryan addressed the meeting at some length. [...]

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Catholic. The Bishop of Maitland, Freeman's Journal, Sydney, 27 March 1880, p 15, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133488112:

We have just been informed that his Lordship the Bishop of Maitland has arranged to leave by the s.s. Chimborazo for Europe on the 17th of April. His Lordship some few months back expressed his determination to set out for Rome and Ireland as soon as his health would permit him to travel, for the purpose of making arrangements to bring out teachers for the necessities of the Catholic schools of the Maitland diocese. [...] He leaves on the 17th April, and no doubt there will be a vast concourse of his numerous friends and admirers, both clerical and lay, from all the dioceses of the colony to see him off.

His Lordship will be accompanied on his trip to Europe by the Rev. P. Ryan, of Carcoar. We need not remind our readers that this is the zealous, indefatigable priest of whose efforts in the cause of religion and education our correspondent wrote in our issue of March 13th. Let us briefly sum up the results of our correspondent's calculations of Father Ryan's works within a twelve years' stewardship, from a Catholic population of 1200 or 1300 persons, including men, women, and children, and very few of whom are in affluent circumstances :— 1st. Carcoar Church, cost £2000; 2nd. Carcoar Convent, cost £3500; 3rd. Carcoar Presbytery, cost £2900; 4th. Cowra—Block of stone buildings—church, convent and school, cost £5400; 5th. The building at Canowindra, cost £300; and two other wooden buildings, cost £300. The grand total expended on these and other minor buildings, decorations, &c., amounts to £17,000. These are eloquent exponents of Father Ryan's works and they require no comment. A few of his parishioners who are now in town, waited on us this morning, and informed us that it is their intention to present him with a substantial testimonial in recognition of his great services to the mission. This will be a very graceful and well-timed tribute, as it is well known that Father Ryan was not, from his charitable disposition, the man to save money. We have no doubt the testimonial will be a handsome one, creditable alike to the subscribers and the recipient.

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Catholic, Freeman's Journal, Sydney, 3 April 1880, p 15, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133488381:

We notice that the Carcoar and Cowra papers, in referring to the departure for Europe of the Rev. P. Ryan, strongly recommend that a substantial testimonial should be offered him in recognition of his great and successful labours in those districts.

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Presentation to Father Philip Ryan, Freeman's Journal, Sydney, 24 April 1880, p 19, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133486983:

On Wednesday afternoon (says the Carcoar Chronicle) the following gentlemen—[...]—proceeded to the presbytery, for the purpose of presenting a purse containing nearly 400 sovereigns to the Rev. Philip Ryan prior to his departure for Europe. The deputation were received by the Rev. Fathers P. Ryan, Davern, Nugent, Kelly, and J. Ryan. Mr. Andrew Lynch, M.P., addressing Father Ryan, said,—

"Rev. Sir,—I have been deputed by the several subscribers to this testimonial to ask your acceptance of a purse of sovereigns on the occasion of your departure for Europe. I regret that time did not enable us to collect a larger sum than we have done, because the respect in which you have always been held, and the love of your many friends, would have been shown by a present at least double in amount to that which I have now the pleasure to present. It would be a waste of time for me to speak of the good you have done for this district since your residence amongst us, or of the indefatigable manner in which you have worked in the cause of religion and education throughout the length and breadth of the Australian colonies. I have no desire to flatter you, for the good you have done amongst us will always stand as a memorial of your zealous labour. We trust that you will benefit in health and in every way by your contemplated voyage to your fatherland, and we only regret that we must lose you for a short time to enable you to take this trip. We cannot do more than ask you to remember us in your prayers, and we hope you will be spared to return safely to us, bringing with you more teachers to assist you in your great and good work. As time is short I will not say more, although I feel that I could speak at much greater length. I will just read a letter which has been received by Mr. McKillop, in which his Lordship the Bishop of Bathurst expresses his high appreciation of your devotion.

"'Bathurst, April 6th, 1880.—My dear Mr. McKillop,—His Lordship the Bishop, learning from the papers that it is intended to present Father Philip Ryan with a testimonial, on the eve of his departure for Europe, and that you are Hon. Treasurer to the Committee appointed to make the necessary arrangements, has directed me to send you the enclosed cheque for fifty pounds as a mark of his high appreciation of Father Ryan's personal worth and of his valuable labours in the mission of which he has had charge since he came to the diocese. Believe me, my dear Mr. McKillop, very faithfully yours, Joseph P. Byrne.'

"I have much pleasure in asking you to accept this purse as a token of our love for you."

The Rev. P. Ryan in reply said :—"I do not know if the receipt of this money has cheered me up or not, but I can say that I feel much better now than I have done all day. This is not the first occasion you have asked me to accept a present like this ; on a former occasion you generously presented me with a sum of money for doing my duty, and now you ask me to accept another to pay my expenses home to Europe. Well, I can say that apart from the mark of your appreciation I have been well compensated for my work for you and your children in the cause of Almighty God. At the same time it is very pleasing to receive such a present, and I do not feel that I can find words to thank you sufficiently. I am saying farewell to you for a short time, and I must leave behind me the result of my labours. This I freely offer you, and had I a thousand lives I would as freely offer them to you and spend them for your advancement. I do not feel that I can say more, but I trust when we meet again we shall all be in good health. I would like you to kneel down that I may give you my blessing, and I will then say farewell to each of you."

The rev. gentleman was very much affected and acutely felt the parting with his many friends. He embraced each one present and then proceeded to bid adieu to his servants. Before leaving the Presbytery an adjournment was made to the dining-room, where the health of Father Ryan was drunk, and all wished him God speed on his voyage. He left Carcoar immediately afterwards for Blayney, en route for Bathurst and Sydney.

On Sunday morning week the rev. gentleman preached his farewell sermon to a large congregation, and in touching language recommended them to the spiritual charge of his successor, Father Davern, and trusted they would do all in their power to liquidate the debt remaining on the Presbytery. A statement had gone forth that Father Ryan had accumulated a large sum of money for his own use, and to this he gave a most emphatic denial. A great deal of emotion was exhibited by the congregation who seemed to feel acutely the parting with their beloved pastor.

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Catholic Church at Cowra, Freeman's Journal, Sydney, 16 April 1881, p 14, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article115456818:

We announced last week that on Sunday, 3rd inst., the new Catholic Church at Cowra was opened and blessed. The following particulars are from the Cowra Free Press:—The new Catholic Church in this town was formally opened and blessed by the Right rev. Dr. Quinn, Bishop of Bathurst, assisted by the Rev. Father O'Donoghoe, of Queensland. [...] The rev. preacher also alluded in feeling terms to the efforts of the former pastor of this parish (the Rev. P. Ryan), and mentioned how very gratifying it would be to him to learn that his people in this far-off land had erected and freed from debt a monument to the honour and glory of God, and one which redounded to their credit. [...]

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O'er the Wide Waste of the Waters Blue. A Peep at Ould Ireland. By Cr. McMahon. (Continued from our last.), Fitzroy City Press, Melbourne, 20 December 1889, p 3, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article65678335:

[...] A little later and Mount Melleray is in sight,—Mount Melleray, made famous by the monks of La Trappe. [...] They live exclusively upon vegetable diet, use no stimulating drink, not even tea, indulge in but five or six hours' sleep, labour incessantly, and maintain perpetual silence. The last rule is relaxed in favor of some members for essential purposes, such as teaching in the schools and college attached to their grounds, the transaction of necessary business, and the reception of visitors, by a monk known as "the guest master." In this case it is the Rev. Father Ryan, now about 7 years in the order, and previously a parish priest for 16 years in Deniliquin, New South Wales. Truly, as he says, there is a wide difference between driving a buggy and pair over the bush tracks of New South Wales, and working with a heavy iron crowbar, reclaiming the [...] of Mount Melleray. [...] For myself I am taken possession of by Father Phil Ryan, the guest master, who stands about 6ft. 2in., and is proportionately broad and as fine a sample of a man as you could wish to see. He marches me into the dining room. [...] A pleasant hour is spent in inquiring about brother priests in Australia and chatting over colonial matters in general. [...] A hurried farewell to Father Phil and placing a farthing in his hand I tell him it is my contribution. He receives it and thanks me in as graceful a manner as a moment afterwards he does when receiving some gold sovs. from another visitor. [...]

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Irish death record, https://www.irishgenealogy.ie/files/civil/deaths_returns/deaths_1908/05476/4533535.pdf: Superintendent Registrar's District Lismore, Registrar's District Cappoquin. 1908. Deaths Registered in the District of Cappoquin in the Union of Lismore in the County of Waterford. No. 222: On 30 September 1908 at Mt Melleray Abbey, death of Philip Xavier Ryan, male, bachelor, 73 years, Cistercian Priest; of Fatty Degeneration of heart, 1 year 6 months, certified; informant: J.S. Hickey, present at death, of Mount Melleray Abbey, 2 December 1908.

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Father Phil Ryan of Mt. Melleray. His Death. First Parish Priest of Carcoar, The Catholic Press, Sydney, 5 November 1908, p 13, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article104913260:

The news was received in Carcoar on Monday that the Rev. Philip Ryan, first resident priest of Carcoar, died at the Monastery, Mount Melleray, County Waterford, the 1st of October, 1908. The news will be received with widespread regret, as he was highly respected by all classes of the community during his 14 years stay in Carcoar parish. When he was appointed to take charge of Carcoar in 1860 by the first Bishop of Bathurst, with whom he had just come out from Ireland, there was no church, school, or presbytery of any kind at Carcoar, or none worthy of the name in any part of the whole parish. His first work at Carcoar was to build for the people a good substantial stone church, which cost about £1500. When he had finished the church he set about the erection of a convent and school at a cost of about £4000. He was most generous in his subscriptions towards all these buildings, he gave the princely donation of £600 towards the Convent of Mercy at Carcoar. He was not less zealous or active in providing churches and schools for other parts of the district. He built substantial churches, convents, and schools at Blayney and Cowra, and had convent schools established in these two places, as well as in Carcoar, prior to his departure from the district. He also had the honour of erecting the first church at Canowindra. His last work was the erection of a magnificent presbytery at Carcoar, which cost £2500.

Other pioneer priests erected, perhaps, more churches and schools, but no priest ever came to Australia who obtained more money for buildings dedicated to the service of God than he did from small congregations. The late illustrious and patriotic Archbishop of Cashel, Dr. Croke, preached at the laying of the foundation stone of the Convent of Mercy at Carcoar, and he remarked that he expected about £200 or £300 from such a small congregation, but to his great surprise £1800 were contributed in cash on that occasion.

It may be asked why did a priest who did such great things for the honour and glory of God and the salvation of his neighbour bury himself in a monastery for the past 26 years? The explanation is very simple to those who were well acquainted with the late Father Ryan. Before he studied for the priesthood he had joined the monastery, but, his health breaking down in the novitiate, he left and became a secular priest. For ten years prior to his leaving he used to say he intended to leave Australia to end his days in Mount Melleray. No one believed he would carry this resolution into effect. He did, however, and for the past 26 years kept the strict rule of a Cistercian monk. For the past 12 months his death was expected, as he was suffering from a growth, from which the doctors told him he would die in a short time. Surrounded by the Abbot, priests and monks of Mount Melleray, and assisted by their prayers, he died in the odour of sanctity. He was about 74 years of age.

Father Phil Ryan was a native of Clonoulty, County Tipperary, and before entering Mt. Melleray he spent some months in the old village with his own folk, his fine, jovial nature radiating happiness amongst the children and those who knew him as a boy. He assisted the priests in preparing the children for Confirmation, which was administered at the time by his old friend, Archbishop Croke. Old Australian friends frequently visited him at Melleray, including the Hon. John Meagher and the late Colonel Freehill, who spent some days at the monastery last year. They found Father Phil as deeply interested in and as well informed about the diocese of Bathurst as if he had only left there on the previous day, and he remembered all his old parishioners as if they were members of his own family. Of the priests who came out from Ireland with Bishop Quinn and Father Phil Ryan, the only one now living is Father McGrath, parish priest of Rockley.—R.I.P.

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The Late Rev. Philip Ryan. First Resident Priest of Carcoar. Death at Mount Melleray, Freeman's Journal, Sydney, 5 November 1908, p 17, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article111282837 [includes photograph]:

News was received in Carcoar on Monday that the Rev. Philip Ryan, first resident priest of Carcoar, died at the monastery, Mount Melleray, County Waterford, on October 1. This news will be received with widespread regret, as he was highly respected by all classes of the community during his fourteen years' stay in this parish (writes a Carcoar correspondent). When he was appointed to take charge of this parish in 1866 by the first Bishop of Bathurst, with whom he had just come out from Ireland, there was no church, school, or presbytery of any kind in Carcoar, nor any worthy of name in any part of the parish. His first work at Carcoar was to build for the people a good substantial stone church, which cost about £1500. When he had finished the church he set about the erection of a convent and school at a cost of about £4000. He was most generous in his subscriptions towards all these buildings; he gave the princely donation of £600 towards the Convent of Mercy at Carcoar. He was not less zealous or active in providing churches and schools for other parts of the district. He built substantial churches, convents and schools at Blayney and Cowra, and had convent schools established in these two places as well as in Carcoar prior to his departure from the district. He also had the honour of erecting the first church at Canowindra. His last work was the erection of a magnificent presbytery at Carcoar which cost £2500. Other pioneer priests established perhaps more churches and schools, but no priest ever came to Australia who obtained more money from small congregations for buildings dedicated to the service of God than he did. The late illustrious and patriotic Archbishop of Cashel, Dr. Croke, preached at the laying of the foundation-stone of the Convent of Mercy, Carcoar, and he remarked he expected about £200 or £300 from such a small congregation, but to his great surprise a sum of £1800 was contributed in cash on that occasion. It may be asked why did a priest who did such great things for the honour and glory of God and the salvation of his neighbour bury himself in a monastery for the past twenty-six years. The explanation is very simple to those who were well acquainted with the late Father Ryan. Before he studied for the priesthood he had joined the monastery, but his health breaking down in the novitiate, he left and became a secular priest. For ten years prior to his leaving he was wont to say he. intended to leave Australia to end his days in Mount Melleray. No one believed he would carry this resolution into effect. He did, however, and for the past twenty-six years kept the strict rule of a Cistercian monk. For the past twelve months his death was expected, as he was suffering from a growth from which the doctors told him he would die within a short space of time. Surrounded by the Abbot, priests, and monks of Mount Melleray, and fortified by their prayers, he died in the odour of sanctity at the ripe and venerable age of nearly eighty years. May he rest in peace.

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Death of Father Phil Ryan, of Mt. Melleray. First Parish Priest of Carcoar, N.S.W., The Southern Cross, Adelaide, 13 November 1908, p 16, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article166973507:

The news was received in Carcoar on Monday that the Rev. Philip Ryan, first resident priest of Carcoar, died at the monastery, Mount Melleray, County Waterford (Ireland), on October 1, 1908. [...] The deceased priest was a brother of Father P.P. Ryan, of Blumberg. R.I.P.—"Catholic Press."

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Our Letter from Rome. Death of a New South Wales Pioneer Priest, Advocate, Melbourne, 21 November 1908, p 12, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article169902807:

Fr. Philip Ryan, formerly pastor of Carcoar, diocese of Bathurst, died at Mount Melleray Abbey, Ireland, on the 30th September. R.I.P. He was ordained at All Hallows' College, Dublin, in 1867, and laboured in the Bathurst diocese for about 16 or 18 years with marked zeal and success. With the consent of his Bishop, Dr. Matthew Quinn, he resigned his parish, which he left in splendid order, and entered the monastery of Mount Melleray about 22 years ago. As he was a model student and model priest on the mission, so he was a perfect religious, and died a most holy and edifying death. To brother priests from Australia who frequently paid him a visit at Mount Melleray, he often testified to the happiness and peace of soul he enjoyed in that saintly abode, and thanked God for calling him to the religious life.

Fr. Lewis Carew, for the last ten years assistant in Rome to the Father-General of the Cistercians, and who now returns to Mount Melleray, where he began his religious life, gave me the news of Fr. Phil. Ryan's death, and added that he was Novice Master when Fr. Ryan entered. He spoke affectionately of him as a most exemplary religious. I remember when Fr. Ryan left the mission and the world for the peaceful solitude of Mount Melleray many of his brother priests envied his happiness and applauded his resolution to choose the better part. [...]

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Looking Backwards, Freeman's Journal, Sydney, 16 June 1938, p 33, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article146426872:

The mention of the presence of his old friend, Most Rev. Dr. Murray, of Maitland, at the funeral of the Bishop of Bathurst, Most Rev. Dr. Byrne, recalls a notable event in the history of the Church in Australia, viz., the arrival of a band of Bishops, priests and nuns, for this southern land, by the "Empress," as published in the "Freeman," of October 27, 1866—a long time ago. On that boat were the Most Rev. Dr. Murray, Bishop of Maitland, and his Vicar-General, Rev. Father Michael Doyle; Most Rev. Dr. Quinn, Bishop of Bathurst, accompanied by the following clergy for his diocese—Rev. Fathers P. Ryan, W. Nugent, T. Walsh, D. McGrath, J.P. Byrne (afterwards Bishop, in succession to his Lordship Dr. Quinn), Martin Walsh; Dean Beechinor, of Tasmania; [...]

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Kevin Condon, CM, The Missionary College of All Hallows 1842-1891, Dublin, 1986. Appendix: Matricula 1842-91:

No. 774: Philip X. Ryan, 1861, Mt. Melleray. Of Edward and Winifred Purcell, Clonoulty, Cashel; b. 2.5.1835. Ord. for Brisbane in 1866, and went to Bathurst: Cowra, 1866-1880. 'A parish twice the size of Ireland' - Bishop Quinn. Entered Mount Melleray in 1882 and died on 1.10.1908.