A pastor with the Diocese of Paterson in New Jersey, Father Patrick Ryan has served at St. James of the Marches Church in Totowa and Blessed Sacrament Church in Paterson. An advocate for the participation of lay people in parish life, Father Patrick Ryan founded an Italian Society, a parish council, and a New Beginnings group for grieving individuals. He also established Grandfriends, a mentoring partnership between senior citizens and third-grade children.
Father Ryan holds a bachelor of arts in sociology from St Leo University, where he served as vice president of student government and president of student senate. A Sigma Lambda fraternity member, he worked on the editorial board of the school’s newspaper, The Lion. He then earned a master of divinity from St. Mary's Seminary & University in Baltimore, followed by a master of science in education from the College of St. Rose and a master of theology from St. Bernard's Institute. More recently, he received a doctor of ministry from New York Theological Seminary.
