Knights of Columbus, Father Thomas J. F. Ryan Council #5036 was formed in The Resurrection of Our Lord parish, in the City of Philadelphia, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on November 13, 1960.
A small group of knights transferred from other local Knights of Columbus councils to join the newly formed council, but most of the charter members were new initiates into the Order.
At the time, Luke Hart was the Supreme Knight, Warren F. O'Donnell was Pennsylvania State Deputy, and Frank P. White, Sr. (Past Grand Knight of Assumpta Council 3885) was District Deputy of the 7th District.
Rev. Joseph L. Curran, the fourth Pastor of Resurrection Church (1946–1970), and a member of the Knights of Columbus, encouraged the formation of the council.
Council 5036 was named in honor of the Reverend Thomas J. F. Ryan, the third pastor of Resurrection from April 24, 1934 to May 8, 1946.
The Philadelphia Archdiocese was between Archbishops on November 13, 1960. His Eminence John Cardinal O'Hara, C.S.C. passed away on August 28, 1960, and His Eminence John Cardinal Krol, D.D., J.C.D. was promoted to Archbishop of Philadelphia on February 11, 1961.
His Holiness Pope John XXIII reigned as Vicar of Christ.
The President-Elect of the United States was Brother Knight John F. Kennedy.
David L. Lawrence was Governor of Pennsylvania and Richardson Dilworth was Mayor of Philadelphia.
Edward Urban was appointed the first Grand Knight of Father Thomas J. F. Ryan Council 5036. Business meetings were held in the Resurrection Parish School Hall on the first and third Sundays of each month.
On one occasion, during an animated discussion about the newly formed council, Brother Sam Jolley jumped up, yanked off his coat, threw it on the floor, and shouted, “Brothers! We are pouring the cement!” And indeed, they did pour the cement of a strong foundation. By 1985, Father Ryan Council 5036 grew to a strength of 300 members.
The present-day Council Home at 9090 Old Bustleton Avenue, near Maternity B.V.M. parish, was purchased in 1966. The first business meeting at the new location was held in January 1967.
Today, Father Ryan Council supports three local parishes: Resurrection of Our Lord, Castor Gardens (History Resso); Maternity B.V.M., Bustleton (History B.V.M.); and St. Cecilia, Fox Chase (History St. C). (The altar boy in the 1954 cornerstone photo is PGK Will Schmitt.)
From its inception, Father Ryan Council has been active in every phase of Columbianism. The Ladies Auxiliary, formed shortly after the council, has been loyal and faithful for decades. Father Thomas J. F. Ryan Squire Circle 1447 was instituted on September 10, 1965.
A publication named “The Banner” was started by the Squire Circle in 1962. The Council assumed editorship in 1964. Brother Herb Marizzy served as editor until June 2017. Brother Herb also started a website for the council. In March 2018, publication of The Banner and the Father Ryan website were revived by Brother William Schmitt. Brother Tom Sims became editor in September 2019. Brother Will Schmitt is our Webmaster and can be reached at WAJSCHMITT@GMAIL.COM.
(Excerpts reprinted from a 1985 work by Salvatore A. Basile, PGK.)