Katie McAnany is a pediatrician in her third year of residency at Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis.
Ben McAnany is a Project Estimator at McAnany Construction.
Ryan McAnany is a Senior at University of Dallas, where he is studying history.
Catholic education has always been a driving force in our family. Our parents, Pat and Mel McAnany, know that our education would be incomplete if not formed in faith and supplemented by our rich Catholic teachings. To our family, attending a Catholic school meant that we would be embraced by a community full of faithful tradition, service to the poor, and a strong faith lifestyle.
Our parents have been involved in CEF throughout our entire lives because of the resounding impact a Catholic Education has on the life of a child. Our parents know that the Catholic Education Foundation gives children living in difficult home situations an opportunity to attend a Catholic school that they might not have been able to attend. CEF has been an important aspect of our parents’ lives because through Catholic Education, children have the opportunity to come to know God, serve God and serve others in a way that could not be done. These children graduate from Catholic Schools with the knowledge and understanding that they can achieve greatness if they hold true to their love of God and all people in this world. Our parents love meeting children who receive a scholarship from CEF and seeing the sparkle in their eyes and the love they have for God and for his children on earth.
Our parents sent us to Catholic schools because they know that a Catholic education would form us into individuals who know God, his love and his care for all beings. Starting the day with prayer, attending mass weekly, receiving sacraments throughout and continuing to count our blessings each and every day are vital to the traditions and values of the Catholic Church. Those same values carry over to our family life and as a result we are closer as a family and dedicated to the service of others as we continue to make an impact on the world. Each day is a new day to help serve as Jesus taught us and without Catholic Education, we would not have the same ideals we have to impact each one of God’s children on earth.
As we were blessed with such a wonderful foundation of Catholic education, we were also able to make decisions of our own along the way. A lot of times, people who have never experienced Catholic education may have the belief that we blindly follow the rules and dogmas that are taught to us. On the contrary, what makes our education so unique is that it teaches us how to think freely and in a manner that will help us to mature and grow in our faith. We have gotten involved in all aspects of the community, such as Rotary & Sheffield Place, because we believe that our faith & values translate to a better life & a better world to those we encounter along the way. Our Catholic Education laid the foundation for the way we live our lives, something we will cherish for the rest of our lives as well.
We are so grateful for the sacrifices that our parents have made in order to send us to Catholic schools. We realize that raising children is something many parents do, but forming children in faith is truly a vocation! We are so blessed and thankful to have parents who dedicated their lives to this! We know that not all parents have the means to provide Catholic education to their children. We are so proud of our parents for dedicating their time and talents to supporting Catholic education and look forward to celebrating with them at Gaudeamus this year.
Katie, Ben & Ryan McAnany
Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam
Pat and Mel McAnany will receive the Angels Among Us Award at Gaudeamus on October 24, 2015.
