Vincent James Ryan

The fourth of five children, Vincent Ryan was born on July 1, 1884, in Arlington, Wisconsin, to Thomas Ryan and Ann Welch Ryan.[1] He was raised on the family farm, and attended high school in Lodi, Wisconsin, for two years. In 1902, Ryan entered St. Francis Seminary in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.[2] From 1906 to 1912, he studied at Saint Paul Seminary School of Divinity in St. Paul, Minnesota.[1] Seeking a career as a missionary, he was accepted by North Dakota's Bishop John Shanley into the Diocese of Fargo.[2]

Ryan was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop John Ireland on June 7, 1912.[3]

Following his arrival in North Dakota a month later, Ryan served, until 1936, as chancellor of the diocese and private secretary to Bishop James O'Reilly.[1] In addition to these duties, he erected St. Anthony's Parish in Fargo, North Dakota, where he served as pastor from 1917 to 1936.[2] Ryan also organized and served as the first director of the Catholic Welfare Bureau, which became one of the most important charities in the state.[2] He was vicar general of the diocese from 1939 to 1940, and raised to the rank of domestic prelate in 1939.[1] Ryan was elected president of the National Catholic Rural Life Conference in 1941, and co-authored Manifesto of Rural Life.[2] He held a Bachelor of Sacred Theology from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.[1]

On March 19, 1940, Ryan was appointed the second bishop of the Diocese of Bismarck by Pope Pius XII.[3] He received his episcopal consecration on May 28, 1940, from Bishop Aloisius Muench, with Bishops Joseph Busch and Thomas Welch serving as co-consecrators, at St. Mary's Cathedral in Fargo.[3] He was installed the next day by Archbishop John Murray.[3] During his 11-year tenure, Ryan constructed 69 church buildings for a total cost of over ten million dollars.[2] Among these buildings was the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, which was dedicated in August 1945.[2] Ryan founded the diocesan newspaper, Dakota Catholic Action, in 1941[2] and opposed the 1948 "anti-garb" law, which prohibited nuns from wearing their religious habit while teaching in public schools in North Dakota.[2]

Ryan died on November 10, 1951, at age 67 in Bismarck. His burial was at the city's St. Mary's Cemetery.[2]