Diocese Mourns the Loss of Monsignor Edward Ryle
“Msgr. Ed Ryle was a major influence in ecumenical relations and worked tirelessly for social justice and improvements in healthcare for the needy, both on the local and national level. He had a special heart for serving the poor.”
—Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted
OBITUARY FOR MONSIGNOR EDWARD J. RYLE
(Dec 29) The Catholic Diocese of Phoenix mourns the loss of Msgr. Ed Ryle who passed away Wednesday evening. Although he was officially part of the Diocese of Tucson, Msgr. Ryle spent many years in the Diocese of Phoenix. In 1984, he became the Director of the Arizona Catholic Conference, the government relations office serving the bishops of Arizona. He also worked in Phoenix on three other occasions. From 1956-1961 he was associate pastor at St. Thomas the Apostle, from 1963-1967 he divided his time serving Tucson and Phoenix as Assistant Director of Catholic Charities and from 1969-1971 he became the first Director of Catholic Charities for the newly formed Diocese of Phoenix.
One of Msgr. Ryle’s proudest moments was in September of this year when he received the highest award, THE VISION AWARD, from Catholic Charities USA. This recognition was for his lifelong work in tackling the death penalty, his tireless aid for the poor and disabled, and for many other social concerns plaguing our society. Upon winning this prestigious award, Msgr. Ryle said, “The VISION AWARD is gratitude to God and to all those people who supported and encouraged my work with Catholic Charities and the social mission of the church.”
Other awards came from the Arizona Medical Association, Arizona State University’s College of Extended Education, and on the occasion of his retirement, Governor Janet Napolitano proclaimed January 31, 2003, “Msgr. Ed Ryle Day” in Arizona.
Paul Martodam, CEO for Catholic Social Service here in Phoenix said that Msgr. Ryle was known throughout Arizona in public policy circles as a tireless advocate for people on the margins of our society. When Msgr. retired, according to Martodam, the headline read “God’s Lobbyist.” Martodam went on to say, “Finally, the press got it right!”
Msgr. Ed Ryle was born and grew up in Chicago, Illinois. His high school years were spent at Quigley Preparatory Seminary and upon graduation entered Pontifical College Josephinum from 1949-1956 in Worthington, Ohio. A highly educated priest, Msgr. Ryle went on to receive his Master of Social Work from Catholic University in Washington D.C. and his Masters in Divinity from Josephinum. More degrees followed. He served as a Professor at Catholic University’s School of Social Service in Washington, D.C. then became Dean of Marywood University’s Graduate School of Social Work in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
In 1956, Msgr. Ryle was ordained to serve the Diocese of Tucson. At that time, the Diocese of Phoenix did not exist. In 1969, the Diocese of Phoenix was created and Msgr. Ryle became the first Catholic Charities director.
At the time of his death, Msgr. Ryle served on the boards of the Foundation for Senior Living and Catholic Social Service of Central and Northern Arizona. He also was the Spritual Advisor to the St. Vincent de Paul Council in Phoenix, on the board of the Healthcare Institute, a member of the Bioethics Committee of St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, on the Religious Advisory Committee of the Arizona Department of Corrections and on the Arizona Agriculture Employment Relations Board.
Just this past year, Msgr. Ryle established the McArthur Genius Lecture Series to benefit the Msgr. Ryle Field of Interest Fund through the Catholic Community Foundation. The proceeds from the Lecture Series funds grants for projects that address major social justice issues in Arizona and grow the fund’s endowment
On January 12, the second of the MacArthur Genius Lecture Series features Ernest Cortes, Jr. He will speak at the Diocesan Pastoral Center in downtown Phoenix at 7:00 p.m. For more information, go to http://www.diocesephoenix.org/msgrrylefund.html
For more information: Contact Mary Jo West 602-354-2121, cell-602-478-2006
