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DECEMBER 2025

Faith and Service at Father Ryan

Did You Know?

The Christmas season is a wonderful time at Father Ryan. We celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ through optional daily Mass, our Christmas at Father Ryan performances, service opportunities, and spreading joy with our popular Breakfast with Santa, spirited House Mentor Group activities, and much more. This month brings renewed focus on Faith and Service, cornerstones of our Catholic mission and our 100-year-old tradition of academic excellence. Our faith values and shared commitment to serving others define the Father Ryan experience for every student and adult in our community, regardless of faith tradition. To learn more, here are several resources to explore the transformational roles that Faith and Service play in helping each student achieve his or her potential, at Father Ryan and well beyond. Watch our Faith and Service video:

ALL Faiths and Backgrounds are Welcome at Father Ryan? 10+ Faith Backgrounds are Represented by our Student Body? We Offer 7 Theology Courses with 1 Required Annually? We Offer Daily Mass and 1 Required Monthly AllSchool Mass? 17,313 Service Hours were Completed by our Students in 2024-2025? We Served 313 Nashville-region Organizations in 2024-2025? We Received the First-ever Pat Flynn Spirit of Relay Award from the American Cancer Society in 2019 for Raising $2

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Million-plus for Cancer Research Since 2010? Read Principal Francisco M. Espinosa, Jr.’s reflections on the value of a Catholic education for students of all faiths.

Join Us for On November 8, the Father Ryan community came together for the annual Relay For Life to raise money for the American Cancer Society and support the fight against cancer. As the largest student-run Relay For Life event in the country, this year’s gathering was exceptional, raising $92,521 and contributing to Father Ryan’s lifetime total of over $2 million. Every donation, step, and lap reflects our shared commitment to ensuring that together, no one walks alone in the fight against cancer.

Winter Events! You belong at Father Ryan! Join us for an event this winter. Breakfast with Santa

December 13 8:30-11:00am Our students serve the community in numerous ways. On World Kindness Day, November 13, the Girls Soccer Team packed winter supplies for those who are homeless at Room in the Inn. Our Boys Basketball team volunteered to put together Christmas boxes at Ladies of Charity.

The Father Ryan Alumni Association invites all Junior Irish members and their families for a holiday-filled morning at Father Ryan! Enjoy breakfast, photos with Santa, arts and crafts, story time, and performances by our Father Ryan Singers.

December 9-10 7:00pm Father Ryan students placed first and second in the High School division of the Catholic Schools Office's inaugural Veterans Day Essay Contest, honoring those who serve our nation. Writing on the theme, "Veterans: Guardians of Freedom and Faith," 190 students from across the Diocese reflected on the courage, sacrifice, and unwavering commitment of those in the armed forces. Congratulations to Libby Rosenhagen '27, 1st Place, and Morgan Bryan '27, 2nd Place.

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The entire family is invited to enjoy holiday performances by our award-winning dancers, band, choir, and Purple Masque Players.

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Morning Coffee with Father Ryan

Wednesday, January 14 9:30-10:30am Neuhoff Library Overview by President Paul Davis ’81 followed by parent New this year, our Campus Ministry launched the St. Joseph of

questions of our Senior Leadership Team.

Arimathea Society Pallbearer Ministry, giving students the sacred opportunity to serve as pallbearers for individuals in our city who might otherwise be buried alone. Already, our students have assisted at seven burials, offering prayers, dignity, and Christian witness in a profound expression of mercy.

We’d love to welcome you for a campus tour! Click here to choose from our regular tour times, or email Erin Riggs at riggse@fatherryan.org if another time works better for you.

Visit our website to learn more about Faith and Service at Father Ryan.

You Have Questions. We Have Answers!

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Mark Your Calendar for More Father Ryan Events!

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Our first-ever Morning Coffee with Father Ryan last month was a hit! President Paul Davis ’81 and our senior administrators answered questions from parent prospects about every aspect of the Father Ryan experience. Check out the questions that were asked and our answers. Join us for our next Morning Coffee with Father Ryan Wednesday, January 14, 9:30-10:30am in the Nuehoff Library

Junior Irish School Spirit Night January 23 Irish Easter Egg Hunt

And of course, please reach out to us any time with questions.

March 28 Spring Musical:

Irish Athletics

Into the Woods April 9-11

Congratulations to the Girls and Boys Irish Rugby 7’s teams on back-to-back

Spring Preview

TRA Rugby 7’s State Championships!

April 14

View All Junior Irish Events

We are deeply proud of our ten student-athletes from the Class of 2026 who signed their letters of intent to continue their athletic career at the collegiate level! These Next Level Irish are: Addison Belletete | Track & Field - Samford University Bennie Bonadies | Cross Country and Track & Field - Emory University Maggie Slattery | Cross Country and Track & Field - Providence College Maggie McCauley | Lacrosse - Nova Southeastern University Chloe Edwards | Soccer - High Point University Ellison Ball | Soccer - Catawba College Anna Graham | Golf - St. John's University https://fatherryanorg.finalsite.com/fs/comms-manager/view/35f1f7d7-2293-4033-8aeb-1b5b854c86f5

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Will Seitzmeir | Lacrosse - University of Alabama Huntsville Hayden Yandell | Baseball - Lincoln Memorial University Tanner Tran | Wrestling - University of Tennessee Chattanooga

Five Father Ryan senior student-athletes were selected to represent the school at the Diocesan Athletic Conference Leadership Forum and spoke to parochial school students. Chloe Edwards Luke Rech Michael Fisch Ava Francescon McKenzie Crumby

Congratulations to Coach Malik Mims, Father Ryan’s new Boys Basketball Head Coach, on his first five wins of his Irish career!

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Visit fatherryan.org/athletics for tickets to our winter season games.

Hayes Scholars Program Application Opens on December 12 Our Hayes Scholars Program is a rigorous academic and cocurricular program that challenges and develops top-performing students in all areas of academics and personal development. Any rising 9th grader who scores in the top 20% composite local percentile on the High School Placement Test administered by Father Ryan High School is invited to apply between December 12, 2025, and January 8, 2026. Email Erin (Baltz) Riggs ’00, Director of Enrollment, for more information or questions. Meet Joaquin ’26, one of our inaugural Hayes Scholars:

Visit our website to learn more about the Hayes Scholars Program.

Irish Insights: The Gift of Global Learning https://fatherryanorg.finalsite.com/fs/comms-manager/view/35f1f7d7-2293-4033-8aeb-1b5b854c86f5

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In the season of giving, the Irish Insights blog presents “The Gift of Global Learning,” a look into our unique study abroad and foreign and domestic exchange programs. These opportunities change students’ perspectives and, often, their academic trajectory. Read reflections from Colleen Alvis ’25, who studied in France, Aiden Sissons ’26, who was part of the October 2025 trip to Portugal, and Andrew Reducha, Associate Academic Dean, who oversees our programs. Aiden created a “day in the life” video of his experiences in Portugal.

Read the Blog

Bravo, Purple Masque Players! Our fall play, The Stories We Tell, was a terrific twist on fairy tales, performed by the Purple Masque Players last month. We were thrilled to perform for parochial school students on November 13 as well. Mark your calendars for more storybook magic on April 9-11, 2026, when the Purple Masque Players perform Stephen Sondheim’s Into the Woods.

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Camp Ryan Registration Opens Soon

The summer 2026 Camp Ryan offerings are amazing! Registration opens in early January, and slots fill quickly. All information and registration details will be released at fatherryan.org/camps

Want to learn more about Junior Irish opportunities? Visit our Junior Irish webpage to learn more about how you can get your child involved with Father Ryan today!

Junior Irish Webpage

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Erin (Baltz) Riggs '00

Peyton (Carell) Fuller'13

Ben Spence

Erin (Corrigan) Vallett '95

Director of Enrollment

Assoc. Director of Enrollment

Enrollment Registrar

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