The Ryan Sports Center

The Ryan Sports Center was built on November 6th, 1992, and was named for one of the Sisters of Charity Leavenworth, Sister Leo Frances Ryan. Bill Keil was the head of the development office in charge for the creation of the Ryan Center in 1989. The original goal for the building was to fundraise $7.6 million dollars, and Keil was responsible for contacting more than 50 of Saint Mary's biggest contributors and helping them understand why that was necessary. He calculated each factor for the money donated, $2.6 million for the athletic facility, and the other $5 million for other areas of the school's program. He then proceeded to add another $2 million for scholarships, and another $2 million for areas such as the academic and program development. The estimated time to raise all of these funds were around 3 years.

Mother Leo Frances Ryan was born in Kansas on February 25th, 1903. She made her vows and was brought into the Sisters of Charity, Leavenworth, on June 17th, 1928. In 1956, Mother Mary Ancilla was re-elected as mother superior, and had Sister Leo Frances Ryan elected as her first assistant. The first Chapter of Renewal was created in 1962, “. . . representing some 919 sisters, 854 of them in active ministry- elected Mother Leo Frances Ryan to lead the Community through what were to be its most turbulent years. . .” (Brinkman, Emerging Frontiers, pg. 30). Most of the 60’s included Mother Ryan doing studies on how to encourage the community to continue the unity that has been built within the past few decades, and spread spirituality. “ There is a greater spirit of unity than heretofore. All are endeavoring to recapture our original spirit and to live lives of religious as encouraged.” (Brinkman, Emerging Frontiers, pg. 35). She also continued by stating that understanding the change in people's religious beliefs were to be expected, but good will come from the scrutiny. To her peers, Mother Ryan was someone that was hard to know. "She could read people deeply." (Brinkman, Emerging Frontiers, pg. 364). To some she was stern, and some believed her to be to loud and full of laughter. When Mother Leo Frances Ryan passed away on August 11th, 1988, the plans for the new athletic building was in full swing on the University's campus. The building was dedicated to her on November 6th, 1992, for her contribution to the religious continuity and spirituality on the University of Saint Mary Campus.

The Ryan Center’s home court was named Sister Madonna Fink Court, on January 29th, 2005, after one of our own Sisters of Charity, Leavenworth, Sister Madonna Fink. The court was dedicated after her constant support to the athletes and athletic program at the University of Saint Mary. Madonna Fink was born on May 25th, 1932, in Sidney Montana, where she grew up on a farm as an only child. “She enrolled in Saint Mary College, Leavenworth, with plans to major in Latin and become a teacher.” (SCLS). After two years at the University, Sister Madonna responded to her vocational call and entered the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth in 1952, and gave her vows on August 22nd, 1954, as Sister Mary Laurita, and later returned to her Baptismal name. Sister Madonna was originally a grade school teacher, and moved to teach Latin to high schoolers, but as less people enrolled in Latin she decided to change her career path.

She received her Master’s from Emporia State University in Library Science. “In August 1978, Sister joined Saint Mary College as a reference librarian, a position she held until fall 2009 when she became a library volunteer.” (SCLS). This experience being able to interact with the students of the College opened her eyes to the joy in her life. “While at Saint Mary’s, Sister Madonna assumed an additional role that endeared her to students, their families and the athletic department. She attended every home sporting event/game that she could and led teams in pre-game prayers. She baked cookies and gave them to student athletes for away games.” (SCLS). Sister Madonna Fink was extremely proud of the University’s students and it’s athletes, and continued to show support by saving newspaper articles that featured students, and sending them to their parents. Through her time at Saint Mary, Sister was recognized for many things in her years, “A self-identified non-athlete, Sister Madonna was among the inaugural inductees into the Saint Mary College Athletic Hall of Fame in 1999. In 2005, the University of Saint Mary named its basketball court in her honor. She accepted this surprise recognition with joy, gratitude and her characteristic humility.” (SCLS). In 2005, Sister Fink was recognized for her commitment to the athletic program, and was honored by having the Ryan Center Home court named in her honor. The joy she felt that day was overwhelming, and she celebrated the dedication with grace. Outside of her time working and spending time at the university, “Sister Madonna loved nature and enjoyed bird watching. She remained ever-grateful for the natural beauty of the Leavenworth campus.” (SCLS).

“Ryan Sports Center.” University of Saint Mary (Kansas), University of Saint Mary, www.stmary.edu/facility/details/7-ryan-sports-center. Accessed 22 Apr. 2021.

“Sister Madonna Fink.” Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, Sisters of Charity Leavenworth, www.scls.org/sister-madonna-fink. Accessed 22 Apr. 2021.

Brinkman, Marie J. Emerging Frontiers: Renewal in the Life of Women Religious: Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, 1955-2005. Mahwah, NJ: Paulist Press, 2008.