Library to support deacons' continuing education named in honor of late Deacon Pryor

By ROB HERBST
The Catholic Week
About 10 years ago, Deacon William Holcombe Pryor said Archdiocese of Mobile permanent deacons needed a library to continue their education. 
The library he suggested to permanent diaconate director Deacon Ronnie Hathorne became reality on Aug. 19. Archbishop Thomas J. Rodi blessed and dedicated the Deacon William H. Pryor Library at 406 Government St., which is primarily for deacons to use, but is to be open to the public.
While Deacon Pryor passed away in 2015, many of his family and friends were in attendance for the blessing, including his wife, Laura.
"He was the catalyst for us doing this library. Deacon Hathorne said.  "He was an educator, he loved the diaconate, he loved serving. He was just a deacon's deacon and he believed in education of deacons."
Along with serving as a deacon at St. Mary Parish in Mobile, Deacon Pryor was a longtime band director and teacher at McGill-Toolen Catholic High School.
The two-room library contains about 3,000 Catholic books, according to Hathorne. Bunky Ralph and Angela Sloke were the catalysts to organizing the library, Hathorne said.
"It's amazing how the Holy Spirit works," Hathorne said. "Once we decided to do it, donations of books just started rolling in."