Msgr. Lawrence F. Ryan

Lawrence F. Ryan was born January 20, 1880, the seventh child of William and Maria (Luby) Ryan in Vermillion, MN.  He attended the College of St. Thomas from 1899 to 1904 where he graduated as valedictorian of his class.  He then attended the Saint Paul Seminary, graduating in 1910.  He was ordained on June 8, 1910 in the seminary’s St. Mary’s Chapel.  Ryan was assigned to St. Joseph Parish (1915 – 1916) in Saint Paul, MN and St. Mary’s of the Lake (1940 – 1945) White Bear Lake, but spent most of his career as assistant pastor (1910 – 1915) and pastor (1916 – 1940) at the Cathedral of Saint Paul.  Beginning in 1945, Ryan served as the Spiritual Director at the Saint Paul Seminary.  He held this position until 1963 when he retired from full-time service.  He lived on the College of St. Thomas campus until his death on December 9, 1974.