Father Leo Ryska, a monk of Marmion Abbey, died at Tabor Hills Care Facility in Naperville on October 20, 2026. He was 93 years old.

Father Leo (John) Ryska was born in Chicago April 9, 1933. Educated in elementary school at Saint Leo the Great Parish, he attended High School at Mater Dolorosa Seminary in Hillside, IL. After a year of college at Mount St. Philip Seminary in Granville, WI, he entered the novitiate of the Servite Order in August of 1952. He made his profession as a Servite in August of 1953 and finished his college courses at Our Lady of Benburb Priory in Benburb, Northern Ireland. He did theological studies at the Marianum in Rome, Italy receiving an STL in 1959.

Father Leo was ordained to the priesthood on March 30, 1959, in Rome. He received an MA Degree in Medieval History from The Catholic University of America in 1961. He pursued graduate studies at the Gregorianum in Rome, receiving the STL Degree in Church History in 1964. He was an instructor at the Stonebridge Priory Major Seminary in Lake Bluff, IL from 1964-67. He was named Prior of Our Lady of Sorrows Monastery in Chicago from 1967-70. From 1970-76 he served as the Provincial of the Midwest Province of Servites in Chicago. From 1977-81 he was Vocation Director of the Servites.

In November of 1981 Fr. Leo became a member of St. Meinrad Archabbey IN. He renewed vows and professed obedience to the Archabbot of St. Meinrad in August of 1983. From 1983-85 he was Administrative Assistant to the President Rector of St. Meinrad College and School of Theology and from 1985-92 was Provost and Vice Rector of St. Meinrad College.

In December of 1992, at the request of St. Benedict Abbey in Benet Lake, WI, he was appointed Administrator of the Abbey. On November 13, 1993, he was elected abbot and stayed in that position until January of 2000. In the Jubilee Year of 2000, he served as confessor of the Basilica of St. Paul’s Outside the Walls in Rome. From March 2001 to May 2006, he served as President of the Pontifical Institute of Liturgy Foundation. From 2006 until 20015 he served Director of the Retreat Center and Guest Master at St. Benedict Abbey.

With the absorption of Benet Lake Abbey by Conception Abbey, Fr. Leo in 2015 decided to transfer his monastic stability to Marmion Abbey, Aurora, IL. From that time Fr. Leo helped in the sacramental supply work and spiritual life of the Abbey. In recent years he experienced medical challenges and setbacks but remained invested in the life of the community and the wider world.

Funeral arrangements are to have his body received by the monastic community at Marmion Abbey Church at 4:00 pm on Friday, Oct. 23. Visitation will take place until 8:00 pm, with the Office of the Dead at 6:30 pm. Visitation will continue Saturday, Oct. 24, from 9:00 until 10:00 am, when there will be a Funeral Mass at 10:00 am, followed by burial in the Abbey Cemetery.

Arrangements entrusted to Daleiden Mortuary, Aurora, Illinois – providing funeral and cremation services to Aurora, Montgomery, Sugar Grove, Oswego, Batavia, Yorkville and surrounding communities.