The Interreligious Wisdom of Aging: Q&A with Thomas Ryan, C.S.P.

Sean Salai, S.J. | Mar 23 2016 - 8:40am

Thomas Ryan, C.S.P., is a priest of the Missionary Society of St. Paul the Apostle who directs the Paulist North American Office for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations in Washington, D.C. He is the author of 15 books, including Remember to Live! Embracing the Second Half of Life. Father Ryan’s current projects include co-leading an interfaith retreat called “The Wisdom of Aging with Grace: A Multifaith Exploration.”

On Jan. 8, I interviewed Father Ryan by email about his work.

You are currently preparing an interfaith retreat called “The Wisdom of Aging with Grace: A Multifaith Exploration.” What does “aging” mean to you?

It’s a season of my life where I have the opportunity for creativity. Creative aging is expressed not just in “giving back” but in “giving forward,” making the world in which we live and work better than we found it. That involves a choice. As we gradually have more time and energy to spend on exploration and discovery, where will we invest it? Is endless leisure the reward for our striving, or will we look for more? I will continue to look for more.

http://americamagazine.org/content/all-things/interreligious-wisdom-aging-qa-thomas-ryan-csp