Bishop John Alphonsus Ryan S.P.S. (b. 27 February 1952), is an Irish Catholic bishop and academic, who is the current Bishop of Mzuzu in

Malawi Malawi (; or aláwi Tumbuka: ''Malaŵi''), officially the Republic of Malawi, is a landlocked country in Southeastern Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the west, Tanzania to the north and northeast ...

. Ryan was born in Holy Cross, Thurles, Co. Tipperary. He joined the

Saint Patrick’s Society for the Foreign Missions St. Patrick's Society for the Foreign Missions (Latin ''Societas Sancti Patritii pro Missionibus ad Exteros''; also known as the Kiltegan Fathers) is a Catholic society of apostolic life of pontifical right for men composed of missionary priest ...

(Kiltegan Fathers), studying Theology in Kiltegan, Wicklow, and Philosophy and Mathematics in

University College Cork University College Cork – National University of Ireland, Cork (UCC) ( ga, Coláiste na hOllscoile Corcaigh) is a constituent university of the National University of Ireland, and located in Cork. The university was founded in 1845 as one of ...

gaining a Masters and Doctorate in Mathematics (his doctorate on "Irreducible Goppa Codes" was done with Pat Fitzpatrick). Professor Ryan came to Malawi in 1978 shortly after his ordination.

Priesthood and career

Before being named Bishop of Mzuzu, Ryan lectured in Mathematics in

Mzuzu University Mzuzu University is one of the principal universities of Malawi. The school is located in Mzuzu, in the northern region of Malawi. It was founded in 1997 and accepted its first students in 1999. At the time the university opened its doors, the Cha ...

, and where he was a chaplain and professor of Mathematics beginning in 2000. His academic interests revolve around Coding Theory.

Episcopacy

In 2016

Pope Francis Pope Francis ( la, Franciscus; it, Francesco; es, link=, Francisco; born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, 17 December 1936) is the head of the Catholic Church. He has been the bishop of Rome and sovereign of the Vatican City State since 13 March 2013. ...

named Ryan as Bishop of Mzuzu. Ryan filled an empty see that had been vacated when

Joseph Mukasa Zuza Joseph Mukusa Zuza (2 October 1955 – 15 January 2015) was a Roman Catholic bishop. Born in Malembo, Zuza was ordained in 1982 to serve in the Diocese of Mzuzu, Malawi Malawi (; or aláwi Tumbuka: ''Malaŵi''), officially the Rep ...

died on in an accident 15 January 2015.Irish Missionary Priest ordained Bishop of Mzuzu
Catholic Ireland

References

1952 births Living people Alumni of University College Cork 20th-century Irish Roman Catholic priests People from County Tipperary 21st-century Roman Catholic bishops in Malawi Irish expatriate Catholic bishops Irish mathematicians Mzuzu University faculty Roman Catholic bishops of Mzuzu {{Ireland-RC-bishop-stub