Father Ryan High School

For several years, while he was teaching at Father Ryan, Father Black did a series of Theology lectures and discussions for a variety of audiences in our community. Fortunately, many of those lectures were recorded. Even more fortunately, Father Ryan has been able to digitize them and add them to our archives, providing for us today an audience with Father Black.

As part of our 100 Years of Father Ryan Celebration, we are pleased to release these tapes. To access the tapes and listen to his words, visit 100.fatherryan.org/history/archives

Happy Spring Break, Irish!💜☀️

Last month, 10 students traveled to New York City for a new exchange program with Xaverian High School in Brooklyn. These students spent the week living with host families, fully experiencing life as Xaverian students.

Building on their immersion at Xaverian, students explored many of New York City’s attractions. They toured and attended Mass at Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, visited the Museum of Modern Art, and attended a live taping of the Today Show during a special Olympic segment, a unique opportunity arranged through Father Ryan’s connections. This blend of academic, cultural, and social experiences gave students insight into daily life in New York.

Reflecting on the trip, Director of Houses Amy Duke says, “Students noticed differences between Nashville and New York, from smaller living spaces to relying on public transportation or walking instead of driving. These experiences and new friendships pushed students to adapt, ask questions, and see life differently.”

By trip’s end, several students were already planning summer return visits to spend time with their host families—a testament to the relationships formed and a natural outcome of the adaptation and connection fostered during their stay.

Looking ahead, next fall Father Ryan and these students will welcome exchange students from their Xaverian host families to experience Father Ryan and Nashville. Junior Kate McDonald shared that she can’t wait to introduce her exchange student to Nashville’s country music scene and to show off what Friday Night Lights means to Father Ryan.

We are thankful for visits like these, which pushed students out of their comfort zones and engaged them in unfamiliar thoughts and ideas, and we look forward to welcoming these students in the fall!

For 100 years, Father Ryan has inspired our students to be an Experience of the Living Gospel. Faith based in the Catholic tradition is at the center of all we do at Father Ryan, while striving to instill servant hearts in our students through giving back to our local and global community. From yearly theology courses, Faith and Service days, Daily Mass in the Chapel of St. James, and continuous opportunities to create a deeper connection to God, Father Ryan provides an unrivaled education rooted in the Catholic Church and serving those in need.

To learn more, visit fatherryan.org/faith-service

WEATHER ALERT | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11:

Due to potential inclement weather, all after-school activities have been canceled for today, March 11.

This past weekend, South Street was officially renamed King Hollands Avenue in honor of Nashville native, civil rights activist, and Father Ryan alum King Hollands '58.

Hollands was one of 15 Black students who enrolled at Father Ryan in 1954, following the Brown v. Board of Education decision that ended school segregation. Throughout his life, he was dedicated to combating injustices, preserving Nashville's African American history, and being a supportive neighbor to many in the community.

Nashville Metro Councilwoman Zulfat Suara, who has previously visited the campus to speak to our Multi-Cultural Student Union, sponsored the legislation for the renaming. She was present alongside Hollands' family, Father Ryan High School President Paul Davis, and many others during the unveiling ceremony on Saturday.

Congratulations to Abigail Ellis '27 on being nominated for the Tennessean TSSAA Girls Lacrosse Early Season Player of the Year!

Vote for Abigail today: https://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/high-school/2026/03/09/tennessee-high-school-girls-lacrosse-player-of-year-poll/89028302007/

The Canned Food Drive final results are in! After four collection days, we collected 12,494 cans and $2,154.43!

All of your donations will go to the Ladies of Charity, Catholic Charities, and St. Vincent de Paul. Thank you to everyone for your donations and generosity!

Congratulations to three Irish wrestlers who received awards at the 2026 Middle Tennessee Wrestling Coaches Association award ceremony last night.

Braxton Eason '27 and Colten Calvin '28 were named to the 2026 Middle Tennessee Wrestling Coaches Association Dream Team, and Tanner Tran '26 received the MTWCA “Johnny Drennan Award” for Male Wrestler of the Year.

💜🤼Go Irish!

Yesterday, we hosted 6th-8th-grade math students from 10 of our parochial schools for our annual Math Day, where participants competed in Fundamentals, Word Problems, and overall team scores. Congratulations to all of our winners--we hope to see you back on campus soon!💜

Top Four Team Winners:
🥇1st Place - St. Bernard
🥈2nd Place - St. Matthew
🥉3rd Place - St. Henry & Christ the King

Last week, the Multi-Cultural Student Union had the opportunity to visit the National Museum of African American Music. The museum showcases the musical genres inspired, created, or influenced by African-Americans. Students had the chance to look at the different galleries based on genres and eras of music, as well as dive deeper into the music through immersive interactive technology.