Aquinas Hosts Mass in Celebration of Father Ryan High School’s 100th Anniversary

Aquinas College hosted one of the 100 Masses in celebration of Father Ryan High School’s 100th anniversary Thursday, January 23.

Father Ryan High School, located in Nashville, is celebrating 100 years since its founding, prompting a desire to celebrate 100 Masses over a two-year period in the Nashville diocese and beyond to honor the school. Aquinas College was one stop in the series, with some Masses already having taken place in places such as Notre Dame University and at Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome.

Mr. Paul Davis, president of Father Ryan High School, was in attendance. Mr. Davis brought a special chalice from the Father Ryan chalice display for use during the Mass. The chalice, which priests at Father Ryan have been using over the past century, belonged to Father Joseph Breen. It is one of many from Father Ryan’s chalice display, which honors many of the priests of the Diocese of Nashville who are alumni of the school or have taught and led the school during its history. It was also used by Pope St. John XXIII for the vigil Mass of his 80th birthday in 1961.

Father Luke Wilgenbusch celebrated the Mass, using the chalice and leading the congregation in a prayer after communion that was written for the high school in commemoration of the centennial. The prayer is as follows:

Heavenly Father, we gather as Your loving children, thankful for the many blessings, and relationships forged in these 100 years of Father Ryan High School. Grant us always the grace to nurture faith, to pursue knowledge, and to serve others with charity. May Your light continue to inspire and guide the entire Father Ryan community in this time of honoring the past, embracing the present, and looking to the foundation for the future with hope. Amen.

Father Ryan High School, founded in 1925, was originally named Nashville Catholic School for Boys. It was not until the school moved to its Elliston Place location in 1929 that it was renamed Father Ryan High School. It remained an all-boys school until 1970 where it merged with the all-female Cathedral High School. The school moved to its current location on Norwood Drive in 1991.