A Thursday morning funeral is planned at St. Gregory church in Lower Mills for Msgr. Paul Ryan, who died last week at the age of 92. He served at parishes in Lowell, Mattapan, Brookline, and Hyde Park, and was the pastor of St. Gregory’s parish for 27 years before he retired in 2008. He will lie in state at St. Gregory church on Thurs., Jan, 25, from 9 to 11 a.m., with his funeral Mass to follow.

A native of Jamaica Plain and a graduate of BC High, Boston College, and St John’s Seminary, he was ordained in 1958 by Richard Cardinal Cushing, and served 66 years as a priest.

During his tenure, Msgr. Ryan was a pivotal figure in the preservation and restoration of St. Gregory’s church, which first opened in 1863.

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Rev. Msgr. Paul Ryan, at 92; longtime St. Gregory’s pastor

Rev. Msgr. Paul T., Ryan 92, passed away peacefully on January 18, at the Regina Cleri Residence in Boston. He was born July 19, 1931, in Jamaica Plain. Son of the late John F. and Josephine M. (Dolan) Ryan. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by siblings Mary Reilly and her husband James, Catherine McGuire and her husband John, John Ryan and his wife Elaine, Margaret Gallagher and her husband John, James Ryan, and Peter Ryan and his wife Marianne. He leaves many loving nieces and nephews, and many great-nieces and nephews.

Monsignor Ryan grew up in Jamaica Plain and attended Boston College High School and Boston College. After graduating from Boston College, he entered St. John’s Seminary. He was ordained at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross on Feb. 3, 1958, by Richard Cardinal Cushing. He then served at the following parishes: St. Peter’s in Lowell, St. Angela’s in Mattapan, St. Mary’s in Brookline, Most Precious Blood in Hyde Park, and St. Gregory’s in Dorchester with the honor of being the Pastor for 27 years.

Fr. Ryan was named a Prelate of Honor to His Holiness by Pope John Paul II and given the title “Reverend Monsignor” in 1998. In 2008, he was granted Senior Priest/Retirement Status. He subsequently served at St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Norwood, before joining his brethren at the Regina Cleri Residence in 2016.

Visiting Hours were held at St. Catherine of Siena Church, 549 Washington St. Norwood on Wed., Jan. 24. Msgr. Ryan will lie in state in St. Gregory Church on Thurs., Jan. 25 from 9-11 a.m. followed by a Funeral Mass at 11 a.m. Interment St. Joseph Cemetery, West Roxbury.

Donations in his memory may be made to the Monsignor Ryan Scholarship Fund at St. Catherine of Siena Parish School, 249 Nahatan St. Norwood, MA 02062 or Regina Cleri, 60 William Cardinal O’Connell Way, Boston, MA 02114.