Most Reverend Stephen V. Ryan

2nd Bishop of Buffalo (1868-1896)
“The Lord Sent Me To Preach the Gospel to the Poor”

In 1868, Buffalo and Rochester became separate dioceses. Bishop Stephen V. Ryan served 28 years, the longest of any Buffalo bishop. He founded the diocesan newspaper called the Catholic Union (later known as the Catholic Union and Echo, the Magnificat, and the Western New York Catholic). More religious orders were recruited including the Franciscan Sisters of Penance and Christian Charity, and the Felician Sisters. Bishop Ryan died on April 10, 1896; his body lies buried next to Bishop Timon in St. Joseph’s Cathedral.