Irish-born priest at home in PNG

By LORRAINE JIMAL
FATHER John Ryan learnt about Papua New Guinea from his two secondary school teacher at his home in Ireland more than four decades ago.
He arrived in the country just after Independence Day in 1975, and has been in the country since.
“I am Irish by birth and a Papua New Guinean by the grace of God.”
Father Ryan, 68, served as a chaplain of the Divine Word University in Madang. Today, he is retired and lives in Goroka.
He was born on June 16, 1949. His family of seven – five sisters and two brothers – lives in a countryside.
Fr Ryan is a priest not only for Catholics but also for everyone else who he comes into contact with in his pastoral duties.
He gets involved with leaders of other Christian denominations in spiritual meetings and gatherings.
He had wanted to become a priest art a young age.
“When I was 11, I read a magazine about the Divine Word missionary school in England which trains boys who want to become priests. I was very passionate to join the training school.”
He attended the school with 39 students, although his family was a bit hesitant to allow the 11-year-old to live away from home. It was challenging for his parents and siblings.
But eventually they accepted his decision and supported him.

“ I am Irish by birth and a Papua New Guinean by the grace of God.”

His interest in Papua New Guinea began after hearing so many stories about the country from his two secondary school teachers who had visited the island nation in the South Pacific.
After the seminar training school, he received a letter from his teacher that priesthood was not for him. It forced him to stay at home for a year doing correspondence.
Then he went back to the seminary school and spent the next seven years there. He was ordained in June, 1975 at his own parish and selected as one of the Divine Word missionaries.
He arrived in PNG four months after the ordination.
He spent 42 years mostly in the highlands region, because the weather is cooler and similar to home in Ireland.
“I prefer the highlands because I love the colder climate.”
Fr Ryan is known to many as a God-fearing person who does everything to promote the love of God. He loves people who follow the basic principle preached widely by the Lord Jesus Christ on “love your neighbor as you love yourself”.
He welcomes anyone who needs spiritual advice.
He is well-known for his kind-hearted and also entertaining nature which draws the people closer to him.
He organises feast days for his congregation which allows them to mix and get to know each other better, and him.
He also holds Bible sessions for university students every Thursday. His preaching offers people a light and direction to bring the Lord closer to them.
His face always glows with appreciation whenever the university chapel is full.
It is a great opportunity for him to relay God’s message to as many people as possible at any one time.
As he enjoys his retirement today, the Irish priest is satisfied he had been faithful and dedicated to his calling, although far from his home in Ireland. Thankfully he feels at home in PNG “by the Grace of God”.