Date of death: 10/19/2006
Saint Meinrad Class: O 1946
Father Ralph Lynch, OSB, monk and priest of Saint Meinrad Archabbey, St. Meinrad, IN, and a jubilarian of profession and priesthood, died at the monastery. He was 86.He was born in Cleveland, OH, on May 20, 1920, to Frederick and Catherine (Crow) Lynch and was baptized John Timothy. From the time he was two years old, he was raised by his foster parents, George and Ann Haines.He attended Catholic schools in Cleveland and Akron before beginning his seminary studies at Saint Meinrad in the fall of 1939. He was invested as a novice in August of 1941 and professed his simple vows on August 6, 1942. Fr. Ralph was ordained to the priesthood on June 11, 1946.He earned a master’s degree in economics from Notre Dame University in 1954.Among his early assignments were secretary to Abbot Ignatius Esser, a teacher in Saint Meinrad’s minor and major seminaries, director of parochial assistance, and registrar and assistant spiritual director in the Major Seminary.From 1982-84, he served as chaplain to the Benedictine sisters at Holy Angels Convent in Jonesboro, AR. He then became the assistant oblate director for the secular oblates and was appointed one of the commuting chaplains for the Benedictine sisters at Ferdinand.From 1997 until 2001, Fr. Ralph ministered to the residents of St. Paul Hermitage, the retirement community run by the Benedictine sisters of Our Lady of Grace in Beech Grove, IN. His last assignment away from the community was as chaplain to the St. Martin de Porres Lay Dominican Community in New Hope, KY, from 2002-06.