Rev Francis Ryan SJ
Title:
Rev
First Name:
Francis
Middle Names:
Xavier
Preferred Name:
Surname:
Ryan
Order:
SJ
Date of Birth:
Place of Birth:
Toomevara, Co Tipperary
Country of Birth:
Ireland
Date of Ordination:
Place of Ordination:
Country of Ordination:
Ordination Diocese:
Seminary:
Date of Death:
Place of Death:
Riverview, Sydney NSW
Country of Death:
Australia
Date of Burial:
Place of Burial:
Gore Hill NSW
Country of Burial:
Australia
Find A Grave URL:
Biographical Notes
Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017:
Ryan, Francis Xavier
Teacher; born Toomevara, Tipperary, Ireland, 4 October 1860; died Riverview, Sydney, 31 May 1925, aged 64.
Francis Ryan entered the Society at Milltown Park, Dublin, 10 September 1880, and completed his juniorate studies at the same place, 1882-3. He was sent to teach French and arithmetic, and was prefect of discipline at Tullamore College, 1883-86. His philosophy studies followed at Milltown Park and Mungret, 1886-89.
This was followed by teaching German and French at Clongowes, 1889-91. Seven years of regency was common in those days. Theology was at Milltown Park, 1891-94, followed by four years teaching French and Italian at Belvedere College, Dublin. Tertianship was at Wijnandsrade, Limburg, Holland, 1897-8, before he left Ireland for Australia in 1898.
He taught at Riverview for some of his time in Australia, 1898-99, and again, 1917-25, but also at St Patrick's College, East Melbourne, 1899-1917. In both places he was spiritual father, and was minister at St Patrick's, 1909-13.
Ryan was a linguist of considerable attainments, and was said to have been a good teacher, and a noted amateur gardener. He was also much prized as a giver of retreats. The boys at St Patrick's College were said to have 'idolised' him. He collapsed and died at Riverview while running to drive some cattle out of the garden on an Old Boys day.
(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)