Sister Hannah Johnecheck reflects on her time in diocese

By Caty Mraz
The U.P. Catholic

“My time in the Diocese of Marquette has been filled with many blessings and some challenges as well. Blessings remind us of God’s goodness. Challenges can do the same. God uses the challenges to teach and instruct those whom He loves,” said Sister Hannah Johnecheck, OSF, reflecting on her time in the diocese as she prepares for her next assignment.

“These past two years I have had the blessing of serving in the Diocese of Marquette. I have been living in Chassell, with two of my Franciscan Sisters. We are Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity,” Sister Johnecheck said. Her fellow Franciscan sisters are Sister Jacqueline Spaniola, OSF, and Sister Linda Brandes, OSF. Sisters Spaniola and Brandes serve both at St. Albert the Great University Parish, Houghton, and St. Anne Parish, Chassell. Sister Johnecheck served at Sacred Heart School in L’Anse. She was recently reassigned to St. Peter Indian Mission in Bapchule, Ariz.

“The staff at Sacred Heart School truly cared for God, the students, and each other. At Sacred Heart, I taught bright and eager students. As the staff challenged the students to grow in virtue, I found myself daily challenged to grow in character as well,” Sister Johnecheck said. She added that she found virtues becoming an ever deeper part of her life. “God also reminded me of how He will surprise us with His goodness through those around us. He showed it to me through the joy and humor of my students, as well as the lovely and dedicated people who worked and volunteered in my classroom and in the school,” she said.

Sister Johnecheck described serving in the Diocese of Marquette during the time of the Eucharistic Revival as a true blessing. “Five of my sisters and I attended the Eucharistic Congress. Listening to the speakers, and seeing so many people of faith, once again, renewed and strengthened my faith. I love to see the uniting power of God in the Eucharist,” she said. “I saw this during the Diocesan Eucharistic Congress. Christ’s body was brought together to learn more and to honor Him in the Eucharist. It is the Eucharist that is the binding force for his body present in the people.”

She said that she became more aware of the power of the Eucharistic presence in everyday life. “I saw it in the silence of my own Eucharistic adoration. I saw it in the way that the presence of the Eucharist can bring a crowd to silence. You can have hundreds of people in a room or my class of 17 students,” Sister Johnecheck remarked. “As soon as the Blessed Sacrament is present, the room grows to a hush. I saw the grace of the Eucharist in my students’ reverence for the Sacrament as they prepared for First Holy Communion.”

Sister Johnecheck said that at Sunday Masses, Fr. Ben Hasse, pastor of St. Albert the Great in Houghton and St. Anne in Chassell, would give wonderful homilies. “No matter the Sunday Gospel and no matter the theme of his homily, Fr. Ben would conclude his homily by tying the theme back to the Eucharist we are about to celebrate and receive on the altar. This helped me to see ever more clearly that there is no aspect of our faith that is not connected to the Eucharist. The Eucharist truly is the ‘source and summit’ of our faith,” she said.

For Sister Johnecheck, it was a joy to be part of some of the university activities with her fellow Franciscan Sisters at Michigan Tech. Sister Johnecheck said, “I enjoyed the humor and deep desire for God I saw in the young adults. It was inspiring to see their faith and to see how some of these graduates marry and start a family in the Houghton area.”

She shared that she sees these young families often attend Mass and other events at St. Anne Parish. “One can see these young families living out their faith and handing the faith down to their children. It was not unusual to have a church full of bouncing babies and toddlers on any given Sunday,” Sister Johnecheck said, and continued, “I am very grateful for my time here in the Diocese of Marquette. I am happy to see God’s work in you and God’s work in me. As I continue to journey in my vocation, know that I take each of you with me. God is with us!”

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