(Pictured from left to right: Stove Shop manager, Brandon Chapa; current owner, Patrick Ryan; and former owners, Bill and Cyndy Ryan.)
The Stove Shop’s role as a bronze sponsor for Sippin’ for the Sisters wasn’t just a business decision as it was the continuation of a family story rooted in faith, gratitude, and the enduring influence of the IHM Sisters.
Patrick Ryan, owner of the Stove Shop, located in Phoenixville, PA, grew up surrounded by the legacy of Catholic education. His grandmother’s family, Irish immigrants with deep Catholic roots, believed strongly in the power of faith‑based schooling. One of his grandmother’s cousins was an IHM Sister, a connection that shaped the family’s choices for generations. When it came time for that cousin to begin school, their family chose Villa Maria, trusting the sisters to guide them just as they had guided so many before.
Patrick’s own high school years at Bishop Shanahan, at that time, strengthened that bond. There, Sister Regina Plunkett was the leadership that left a lasting mark on the school and with Patrick. “Sister Regina was such an important influence on me through high school,” he said. “I’m very grateful for my time at Shanahan.”
At Bishop Shanahan, Patrick watched something remarkable unfold. The Sisters didn’t just teach, they formed leaders. Their presence in the school community was steady, encouraging, and deeply influential. They nurtured confidence, curiosity, and compassion in the students, helping them grow into adults ready to make a difference. Supporting the IHM congregation felt natural; it felt like giving back to the people who had poured so much into his family.
Patrick’s mother, Cyndy Ryan, served on the board at Shanahan alongside Sister Regina for three years and witnessed firsthand how she worked tirelessly to make Shanahan one of the strongest Catholic schools in the region. “Their dedication wasn’t abstract,” Cyndy said. “It was visible in every student, every program, every success story.”
That’s why supporting the IHM Sisters, through events like Sippin’ for the Sisters, feels not only meaningful but essential. “Their commitment to education shapes future generations, instilling not just knowledge but values, purpose, and a sense of service,” Cyndy said. “They cultivate leadership and compassion in equal measure, preparing young people to contribute something good to the world.”
For anyone considering supporting the Congregation, the Ryan’s message is simple: “It is worth it, the sisters’ work echoes far beyond the classroom, touching families, communities, and futures.”
And so, when The Stove Shop stepped forward as a bronze sponsor, it wasn’t just a sponsorship. It was a tribute to the sisters who taught, inspired, and led; to the schools that shaped a family; and to the enduring belief that education rooted in faith can change lives.