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Father T. Peter Ryan, the Pastor of St. Boniface Church in
Elmont, New York, was named to become the third pastor of Our Lady Queen of
Martyrs on June 26th, 1991. He has served continuously as Pastor through June 2010. He continues on in the role of administrator for the parish.
Views: The People Speak of Monsignor
From the Spring 2010 Edition of Clippings Magazine
Compiled by Jeannine Ayres
Msgr, Peter Ryan has been a great friend to those in
need of support, guidance and love. He has guided
and brought me personally closer to God. His support for
those in grief through OLQM’s Outreach programs has
been significant and touching, as well as, his unique ability
to create a spirit of home in our church.
- Suzan Haeni
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Our family feels blessed and honored
to have had Msgr. Ryan share so
many events in our lives. He displays
kindness, caring, thoughtfulness, and
generosity in everything he does. He
embodies holiness, and demonstrates
how to live a caring, thoughtful, and holy
Catholic life every day. We cherish his
friendship and the times we’ve shared
and wish him all the best for the future.
-Sean and Amanda Roberts
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From Day I – when we met Fr. Ryan
we liked him. After all - we may be
from the same heritage. My mother’s
name was Mary Ryan. Jeri and I feel
he is a man of many virtues – the most
prominent being his compassion! It has
been said, “Compassion is the conscious
decision to send out love to all those who cross our path.” He very much fits this definition.
We find Fr. Ryan to be a caring, humorous, honest man
with a charming “ twinkle “ in his eye . He always manages
to convey the perfect message when speaking at a funeral,
a wedding or an important anniversary.
He has a lovingly forgetful manner that never fails to make
one smile. ( It reminds us of our humanity.) His comfortable
spirituality attracts people as he shepherd’s his flock with
loving concern.
Father Ryan has been a wonderful pastor and a blessing to
our parish. He deserves a long restful, relaxed retirement
with lots of smooth seas ahead. God Bless you Fr. Peter – “May the wind be always at your back“. With love and
respect,
- Jeri and Jim Godfrey
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Fr. Peter: A gentle, compassionate soul who journeys
with people helping them to see, hear and feel the
presence of God ( Emmanuel) with us. Peter is the face
of God to many people in times of great joy and great
sadness.
- Trish Basile
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Msgr. Ryan has been close to us and our family for more
that forty years; baptizing and marrying our children,
visiting us on special occasions and generally being the
face of the church to all of us. With pipe in mouth, he really
was Barry Fitzgerald.
- Jean and Ray Morrissey
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Msgr. Ryan is a generous and good-humored friend and
a patient and thoughtful priest. He provides perspective
and guidance, always with a smile and has worked hard to
assist many, many people for many years.
- Brian Morrissey
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T. Peter Ryan is truly “a man for all seasons.” Through the deaths and sorrows of my winters, the exuberance and laughter of my springs, the calm and quiet of my summers and the struggles and changes of my falls, he has been there. And not just for me and my family, but for the innumerable people whose lives he has blessed with his presence. Ad multos annos!
- Elizabeth Roberts
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Msgr. Ryan has been part of my life since I was 1 year old. For 47 yrs. he has been a comforting security blanket for me and my family. For years I saw how my parents relied on his advice and spiritual direction (through the couples’ group he chaplains “Teams of Our Lady”) and as a family friend. I considered it a blessing when he became pastor of OLQM as it was my wife’s and her family’s parish and right near my Northport home. I aspire to be as great a listener as Msgr. Ryan. It is comforting to know that he will be literally sailing off into the sunset.
- Joe Melillo
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He gave my daughter marriage instructions, baptized my grandchildren, buried my wife, put up with my antics and he did it all with an expansive love and that sly Irish grin of his. You have to love a guy like that. I know God does.
- Brad O’Hearn
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I attended a wedding in Ireland where Msgr. Ryan co-officiated. He sure can dance a quick footed jig!
- Francesca Banci
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His presence here has been pure grace for our parish. Bob and I wish him many blessings for the future.
- Dolores and Bob Wilbur
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Carmelina and I believe that he embodies and exudes the spirituality that is at the very core of the Catholic Faith. His greatest talent is how he comforts and consoles the grieving at their time of loss. I often marvel at his ability to bring so much solace to those who need it. While he is going to stick around the parish and will likely continue to serve the Mass for us from time to time, his leadership and presence as pastor will be missed by all of us. We wish him all the best health and happiness as he enters the next phase of his life.
- Sal & Carmelina Trifiletti
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I’ve known Peter for 50 years and I’ve always known him to be kind, generous, and
faith filled with a great sense of Irish hospitality and good humor. He has been a true gift to our parish and to all the places that he has served.
- Bill Ayres
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I have known Father/Msgr Peter Ryan since his Smithhaven Ministry. Through all those years, I have found him to be nothing less than a priest, a man, a human being, dedicated to serving others.
- Jim Harper
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I call him the aura of Peace and Compassion that passes through our lives. He is filled with colors and movement.
Now he must fly from us----and we must let him go. How wonderful a gift to give the world.
- Felix McCarthy
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Father Peter shares his kind heart with us each week in his homilies and in the bulletin. I love to read about his family, and when he mentions his parishioners he speaks so lovingly about them, that they seem like family. I especially love when he greets one of our children; he has such a gentle manner and always makes them feel important. He contributes to the children’s liturgy of the Word, and his homilies are always filled with love. He has taught me so much by example about living a life in God’s Grace. We are greatly indebted to him for all he has done for us and for our children at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs.
- Christine Walsh
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“May the God of Peace sanctify you. May you be kept blameless; spirit, soul and body for the coming of our Lord, Jesus Christ” ~Thess. 5
Our prayer is for you and for us all. Best wishes in Christ
- Sheila and Ray Hubbs
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Fr. Peter is a “Renaissance Priest”. He is Christ to others. He shares himself from the pulpit and the parish is his family. He is able to laugh with his parishioners and cry with them as well. Always available to care for and visit the sick. Through the Holy Spirit he is truly pastoral.
- Carol and Vin Rubano
From the Spring 2010 Edition of Clippings Magazine
Interviewed by Bill Lawrence
Q: Monsignor, you, as all of us at Our Lady Queen
of Martyrs, are at a reluctant sea-change, a handing
over of reins, Is it as reluctant for you as it is for
all of us?
A: Bill, I don’t think I’ve ever heard that word “seachange.”
I guess you mean it is like the change of the
tide. Could be low tide and things will get better. Or
high tide and things will not be as good. Is that what
you mean?
Honestly, I’m not reluctant.
I think the time is right,
age wise in any case.
I’ve been blessed with
nineteen years here in
the parish. And the years
seem to have gone by
so fast. It seems like
yesterday. Apprehensive
about what it will be like.
That is a better word. But I
think the Directed Retreat
helped me put the change
in perspective and realize
that God is always with
us. I think I’m ready.
Q: What do you remember most vividly from the
past twenty years?
A: Well, hearing I was coming here as pastor. I’d
put in for it but never thought I’d get it. I had been in
St. Boniface in Elmont for almost twelve years as a
Permanent Pastor that means you can’t be changed.
And I’d been asked twice before about a move. So
when Our Lady Queen of Martyrs was open I wrote
and expressed my interest. I’m glad I came.
I remember Msgr. Colligan introducing me in the tent at
the twenty-fifth anniversary of the parish. I just wonder
what the people were thinking. It was a beautiful
evening.
Q: Are there possibly any regrets or second
thoughts about your years as pastor you would
care to share?
A: Where will I start? We all grow, and are growing – if
not in height, too often in weight. I came to realize that
I needed help to deal with some personal problems.
And in doing so I got
a new beginning. I
think it helped me grow
spiritually. Maybe I was
stagnant . But that is
personal. For the parish and
parishioners, I probably
said things at times that
upset them. These are
troubled times. I don’t
think of myself as liberal,
but maybe others do. I
think we’re all challenged
to grow, to be open to
change. That’s probably
just as true for those in
the pews as for me in the
pulpit. Does that answer your question?
Q: You have consistently shown your concern for
the parishioners and their families, and have made
yourself known to a great majority of them. Have
you perceived any changes in the congregation as
a whole over the past twenty years – in attendance,
in participation in church activities, or in any other
way?
A: Well, thank you, Bill. The parish is the people. I’ve
tried to keep them informed about what was happening
in the parish. We’ve consistently published an annual
Financial and Spiritual Report. Clippings has helped
get that information into the households of all our
Clippings - Spring 2010 13
families. We’ve always had large numbers of volunteers. A largely home based Religious Education programs means a lot of catechists, volunteers. We have a large number of Eucharistic Ministers who bring communion to the hospital, Carillon and the homebound.
Age is a factor in any parish. We are generally speaking a younger parish. In some cases that may mean both parents are working so many of our volunteers are older. Not so with Religious Ed, but in other ministries. Attendance is down, but that is true across the board. And there are fewer Church weddings. That is a real concern. I’ve tried to have good homilists at our Masses. But you can’t always get a Michael Himes. Class Masses, the Children’s Choir and the Teen Mass attract a lot of people. But Mass attendance is down. The Church has suffered a lot with the sex scandals.
Q: If you were to speak to the incoming pastor now, what would you say to him? How would you advise him?
A: Well, I think I’d stay out of his hair. But I think you have to be like Hiawatha and put your ear to the ground and hear the beat. Each parish is different. What changes we’ve seen in Brooklyn and many parishes here on Long Island. Each parish has its own pulse and I think a new pastor needs to take it, listen to the heartbeat, and do a good examination before making a diagnosis or writing a prescription. Give it a year.
Q: What would you most like to be remembered for?
A: Being approachable. Oh, I suppose there are a number of things. Replacing the retaining wall along the lake. No. One program that has been a tremendous asset and help to many is the Employment Network. You know that started in 1992. And just for a few years stopped. It started up again four or five years ago. What a help it has been. Thousands. Of course, our summer trips to Nazareth Farm in West Virginia. And what we have accomplished and are still doing in Nicaragua is beyond words. Some of the interior decorations in the Church. We have a remarkable location thanks to Msgr. Colligan. But neither of us could do it alone. It got done on our shift but it was the parishioners who did it.
Q: What would you say is the best thing a pastor can do for his parish?
A: I would say unequivocally pray for it, for the parishioners, for the people. We do that at Mass, of course, and in our pastoral care and concern for the people. We need to know that ultimately everything is in God’s hands. God uses all our talents to build up the Body of Christ. And that is nourished and nurtured at Sunday Mass. We have a wonderful Adult Faith Committee and with Sr. Eileen’s help we have had speakers and retreats and stimulating conversation about the Church, the parish, society, the modern world. All that helps keep faith alive. It is all prayer.
Q: When and how did you know you wanted to be a priest?
A: That goes back a long way. I think first in St, Dominic’s in Oyster Bay. I transferred to Cathedral Prep in Brooklyn in my senior year. But it might go back even earlier. I had a distant relative – a Maryknoll priest – who was ordained early in the war – World War II – and I remember meeting him as a kid. It left a lasting impression. He’s dead now but my Dad and I got to know him even better when I was in St, Boniface. I have a cousin – Msgr. Jim Ryan – in the Brooklyn Diocese. I think I was influenced, touched, but ultimately, I think, I believe it was the hand of God. It’s long ago now.
Q: Is there one most important issue in the Church today you think we should be aware of? And how should we deal with it?
A: That’s a loaded question. Certainly, the issue of the right to life. But I believe this is much more than a political issue. It goes to the core of a democracy and the freedom of choice. We seem to have lost a sense of the hierarchy of rights.
I think we have to
come back to some fundamental issues, basic values
we can all agree with. While we cannot comprise
the value of life, maybe, just maybe we can protect
life by law in some form of compromise. We aren’t
compromising moral or religious values, but we are at
least protecting life… protecting it a little better. In a larger context, I think ecumenism, and interfaith
cooperation in areas of social justice, both are
critically important. So much is happening at the local
levels that the leadership of the Churches needs take
the lead and move forward and heal the wounds that
divide. So often the rifts in the Church were political,
historical and not all that theological. And as the world
gets smaller I think reunification is more important
and, please God, less challenging. We are faced with
great divides in our world. We don’t need them among
Christians. Well, I could go on.
Q: We certainly will welcome the new pastor with
support and patience as he settles in, but how
would you say we parishioners can actively and
positively best serve him in his Ministry?
A: Bill, continue to do the wonderful things you are
doing in the wonderful ways you are doing them. These
are changing times. We are looking at substantial
downsizing and reorganizing not only in our own
parish, but also throughout the Diocese. The new
pastor will be faced with some major changes and he
will need your – our support and guidance. Many on
our Staff were here when I came, and some will be
leaving with me A new wave is coming, a new tide. If
you welcome him as you welcomed me, if you support
him, as you’ve supported me, I know the transition will
go smoothly. We are Church together and together
we help to buildup the Body of Christ.
Thanks for the interview, Monsignor.
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