Pat & Mel Mcanany

Deo Gratias Award – 2021/ Distinguished Catholic Family

“The McAnany Mission: To love and serve the Lord by being an extension of His Church”

Pat and Mel have demonstrated a lifelong commitment to love and service of the Lord – by being an extension of His Church.

They, along with their family, have been a part of St. Joseph Parish in Shawnee for five generations. Pat's father was on the building committee for the church in 1959. Almost 60 years later, Pat served on the building renovation committee. He has also given his time to the parish's school and finance councils, and helped coordinate the construction of an adoration chapel in 1988 and a new school in 2003.

Beyond the material, Pat and Mel have always believed that a prayerful, spiritual life is the foundation of their lives. They are involved in a Spiritual Mentorship program with the Apostles of the Interior Life – focusing on prayer and having a relationship with Jesus. Through spirituality, they believe, our culture can be transformed.

The McAnanys are involved in the School of Faith, which helps teachers and religious educators better understand the power and beauty of what Catholics believe.

In 2018, they accepted an invitation from Archbishop Nauman to serve as co-chairs of the Archbishop's Call to Share appeal. At the time, they wondered “Why us?”, but they accepted the role believing that Jesus called ordinary, unlikely people to follow Him and to be His disciples.

As Donor Advised Fund holders at the Catholic Foundation of Northeast Kansas, they give to a variety of ministries within the Archdiocese, as well as the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.

Pat and Mel believe everything is a gift from God and He trusts us to be good stewards. When they are blessed with a financial gift, their first thought is “Where are we going to give it?” They hope to pass on the spiritual gift of giving to their children, because the fruit of their work strengthens their love for Jesus, and comes with a peace-of-mind knowing they are doing the Lord’s work.