THE ROUND TOWER AWARD
The Round Towers of Ireland stand out in the countryside like the Gothic Cathedrals of Europe. They represent the spiritual aspirations of Irish monks and their defense of the faith against centuries of persecution. This award is presented to honor a person who exemplifies the strength, courage and the missionary spirit of the Irish monks who built the Round Towers.

Edward Francis Clancy is receiving The Round Tower Award.
A lifelong parishioner of Holy Family-St. Thomas Aquinas parish, Park Slope, Clancy is the first-born son of Edward and Nancy, who are married nearly 53 years, and an older brother to Maura and Christine.
He attended his parish school, Xaverian H.S., Bay Ridge, and earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from the City University of New York.
Much like his Irish ancestors, who came to Brooklyn more than 150 years ago, Clancy holds his Irish Catholic faith, traditions and values in the highest regard.
He serves as evangelization and outreach director for Aid to the Church in Need, an international Catholic charity under the guidance of the Holy Father. With the goal of alleviating suffering and persecution worldwide, the nonprofit assists people in over 145 countries through more than 5,000 spiritual and material aid programs. The current focus is on the survival of Christians and the Church in the Middle East.
Clancy’s desire to strengthen the Church and defend the faith led him to become one of the founding and present board members of Fidesco USA, an international Catholic relief organization that recruits, trains and sends volunteers who use their professional skills to serve the needy through humanitarian and development projects.
In addition, he sits as a board member of the Emmanuel Community USA, which seeks to pursue holiness and proclaim Christ through eucharistic adoration, compassion and evangelization.
Within the Diocese of Brooklyn, he serves as vice chairman of the Diocesan Pastoral Council, the lay advisory board that assists the bishop in his pastoral ministry, and is a member of the Diocesan Planning Commission, which addresses the economic and demographic challenges facing the diocese.
Clancy also makes time to volunteer in his parish community as a member of the parish council and a youth ministry leader. He is gearing up to take a group of youth and young adults to World Youth Day 2016 in Krakow, Poland.
He and his wife Racell are expecting their first child later this month.