Archbishop Ryan High School for Boys - Arrow Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

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REV. NOEL WALL, O.F.M - PRINCIPAL There is a story in the Southwest of a series of Franciscan Friars who came to evangelize a pueblo in what is now New Mexico. As the first ones arrived, and before they could so much as explain their mission they were promptly put to death by the unfriendly and suspicious Indians, but more kept coming to the number of nine. This set the Indians thinking that there must be some rugged driving force that compelled these men to come to them. Finally when the tenth man came, they heard him out and embraced the Faith. In a short time, you’ll be leaving Ryan High School for new horizons, and you’ll come to these new horizons perhaps as the tenth priest came to the Indians. You may appear on a scene that others have prepared and have given their lives to. You may reap the harvest that perhaps other men have planted, just as it was others who opened the doors of knowledge and wisdom so that you might now begin your journey into the future. Richly have you received from the past, and remember now richly must you donate to the new and future horizons of your world in order to make it a just and peaceful one for all.

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Dedication The greatness of any community is distinguished by superior quality of its leadership. As Principal of Archbishop Ryan High School for Boys. Fr. Noel has indeed been the man behind the greatness of the Ryan spirit and the Ryan tradition. Born in Chicago. Illinois. Fr. Noel completed his college education at St. Francis College in Burlington. Wisconsin, and then undertook his theological studies at Christ the King Seminary in West Chicago. In 1966. he obtained his Master of Art degree in Political Science from Villanova University. Coming to Ryan in 1966 he was appointed Dean of Students and also the Chairman of the Theology Department. Still continuing his education, he also received an M.A. Degree in Religious Education from LaSalle College in 1968. In the same year, he was appointed Principal of Ryan High School for Boys by the Franciscan Board of Definers. Some of Father Noels other distinguished positions of service were elected representative of the religious priests of the Philadelphia Council of Priests, member of the Senatorial Scholarship Interview Recommendation Board, former Chairman of the Secondary School Committee of the Assumption Province, and even a former chaplain of the Philadelphia Flyers Hockey team for 5 years. Facilitating, coordinating, and supervising all school policies, activities, and programs were his major responsibilities as Principal of Ryan. He feels that his major accomplishment here has been bringing everything together so that Ryan can become an outstanding school with a firm basis in tradition and Christian Philosophy” ... “a Catholic High School is a community of believers where the faculty and students come together under Christ's leadership. It is not only a place to study and teach but a Christian experience. Following such a philosophy, he strove to make the educational program here at Ryan creative and practical as well as theoretical through the initiation of new courses in the humanities and religion. All of us are grateful to Father Noel for his outstanding service and dedication in guiding us along the way of growth and education in the spirit of Christianity. Over a 12 year period, there is no doubt we all realize why “Noel” is so appropriate a name. It is an Incarnational Word that really means “Christ among us . And as our deep feeling and admiration for him grows so much, we can never say thank you for all he has done for Ryan. However, we will always know that Fr. Noel has become the first beat of Ryan's heart!