SmartGuy® Spotlight on Father Colm O'Ryan

In a city known for constant motion and reinvention, there are a few rare souls who embody steadiness, wisdom, and quiet faithfulness. Father Colm O’Ryan, Pastor Emeritus of the Church of the Good Shepherd, is one of those souls. Now 96 years old, Father Colm is likely the oldest - or one of the oldest - practicing priests still actively celebrating Mass and serving a parish community. His life stands as a powerful reminder that priesthood is not a role you step away from, but a vocation you live for life.

A Lifetime Given to God and His People

Ordained in 1955, Father Colm has devoted more than seven decades to the priesthood. Over the years, he served faithfully in multiple parishes throughout Southern California before becoming pastor of the Church of the Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills in 1991. For 18 years, he shepherded the parish with humility, warmth, and deep pastoral care. When he stepped down in 2009, he was rightly named Pastor Emeritus - but his ministry did not slow down. Even today, Father Colm continues to celebrate Mass and remain present to the community he loves. His ongoing service reflects a simple truth many priests live by: priests never really retire. They just keep serving in quieter, grace-filled ways.

Wisdom, Presence, and a Gentle Spirit

Father Colm’s strength has always been his presence. He listens deeply. He speaks thoughtfully. His homilies are rooted in Scripture, life experience, and a genuine understanding of human struggles. He does not rush people or offer easy answers. Instead, he invites reflection, patience, and trust in God. Parishioners often describe him as gentle, approachable, and deeply sincere. Time spent with him feels unhurried and meaningful - a rare gift in a fast-paced world.

A Legacy Still Being Written

At 96, Father Colm’s life is not simply a story of longevity, but of faithfulness. Very few priests remain active at this stage of life, and his continued presence is a blessing not only to Good Shepherd, but to the wider Church. His ministry has touched generations through baptisms, weddings, funerals, confessions, and countless quiet conversations that never made headlines, but changed lives.

His legacy is not measured in recognition or attention, but in the quiet, steady impact of a life poured out in faithful service to God and others. May he continue to live, serve, and celebrate Mass for many more blessed years!

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