2026 Catholic Schools Week Supplement
A defining moment in adoration leads to a commitment to Catholic education
The members of the McNeany family—Jennifer, left, Noah, Colin, Evan, Adam, Mary and James—know the benefits of a Catholic education. (Submitted photo)
By John Shaughnessy
In his journey to helping advocate for all the Catholic schools and other non-public schools in Indiana, James McNeany traces his path back to a moment of doubt, when he listened to the one voice he couldn’t ignore.
The defining moment came during a spiritual retreat 18 years ago when McNeany listened for God’s guidance as he prayed during eucharistic adoration.
“I feel God speaks to me in adoration every time I’m there, but sometimes it’s really loud. And this was the loudest he’s ever spoken to me,” he recalls with a smile.
At the time, McNeany was in his sixth year of teaching and coaching in a public school in the northern Indiana community of Logansport—a time when there was an opening for a principal at the nearby Catholic school of All Saints Parish in the Lafayette Diocese, where he served as a volunteer youth minister.
McNeany had already applied and interviewed for the principal job, before withdrawing his name. Still, it stayed in his mind, especially at a point in the retreat when everyone was asked to meditate on the Gospel story in which Christ calls Peter to walk on water.
“Peter does, then he realizes what he’s doing, gets scared and falters,” McNeany notes. “Jesus has to catch him and says, ‘Oh ye of little faith, why did you doubt?’ ” (Mt 14:31)
That theme hit home to McNeany, leading him to hear God speaking to him in adoration: “What are your doubts? Why are you doubting me? I have this plan for you. Just say yes, and you’ll be fine. I’ve got you.”
McNeany contacted All Saints—and became its principal for the next six years.
He smiles again and says, “I realized God was right. I fell in love with Catholic education in so many ways. I just love what it provides for our students, and the faith foundation it provides. I love the family connection. You can take what’s happening in the home and build that up in so many ways at a Catholic school. It not only builds the kids up, it builds the families up in a lot of ways, too.”
A success story and a great gift
As McNeany shares that story and that belief, 18 years have passed, including the 12 years he served as the principal of Guerin Catholic High School in Noblesville, Ind., in the Lafayette Diocese.
For the past seven months, he has been settling into
his position as the executive director of the Indiana
Non-Public Education Association (INPEA). The association advocates on behalf of the state’s 400 non-public schools, according to its website, including the 69 Catholic schools in the archdiocese.
“I really just had an appreciation for the support INPEA gave to leaders of Catholic schools,” McNeany says about his time as the principal of All Saints and Guerin.
“I wholeheartedly believe, too, that in order for Catholic schools to thrive in Indiana, this association is necessary.
“Someone needs to be here to make sure that each school has the ability and the freedom to boldly proclaim their mission and the freedom to carry it out. For that to happen, this association needs to be there to liaison from Catholic schools to our state. It’s work I’m passionate about. We’re just trying to make sure that Indiana provides rich soil for Catholic schools to continue to grow and thrive.”
One of the greatest success stories of INPEA is its involvement in working with Indiana’s legislature to make sure that school choice and the state’s voucher program are extended to every Hoosier family without exception—a reality that will start in the 2026-27 school year.
“It’s a gift in so many ways,” McNeany says. “For so many families, Catholic education may not be an option without it. So, it’s a tremendous tool to make Catholic education affordable to Hoosier families, which is incredibly important.
“It also does another thing. I mentioned before about providing that rich soil, that environment where Catholic schools can remain viable. Choice allows Catholic families to find environments where the values that are taught in school are the values that are taught at home.
“When parents have the opportunity to make that choice—and finances can be less a part of that decision—then they’re really free to find the environment that fits for them. I’m very grateful we have that here in Indiana.”
The beauty of God’s plans
McNeany has also seen the impact of a Catholic education from his family’s perspective. He and his wife of 27 years, Jennifer, have made Catholic education a foundation for the lives of their five children, who range in age from 24 to 12.
“It’s been nothing short of a gift and a blessing,” McNeany says. “Parenting is difficult, and anyone who tells you it’s not, I’m not sure they’re fully invested in it. It takes more than just two people dedicated to raising a child. You want them in an environment that mirrors what’s happening at home.
“I’ve always been one who’s inspired by other faithful men and women I’ve encountered, and I want that for my kids, too. I want them to be around faithful men and women who they see as smart and motivating but also faithful. That’s what I want for them in their teachers and school leaders. So, it’s been a gift to have them in Catholic schools.”
He views the gift of a Catholic education from another perspective, too.
“Catholic education is this beautiful intersection of learning about God and learning about the world he created at the same time,” he says.
McNeany views mathematics as “not just numbers that make sense, but the language that God wrote the world with.” He sees science through the lens of “the beauty of God’s creation and the respect for that.” He considers the history of the world and the United States as “woven into God’s bigger history which is God’s plan for salvation.”
He also marvels at God’s plan for him.
“I wholeheartedly believe I’m where God wants me to be. There’s a lot of good work that needs to be done to support our Catholic schools and our Catholic school leaders and educators throughout our state.
“I see the importance of that every single day in the work our team does in helping to advance school choice in Indiana and the mission of our Catholic schools.”
He also still relies on hearing God’s voice to guide him.
“I pray that God shows me the meaning of my work and gives me the courage to undertake it. That’s been my daily prayer.” †
