“When I entered religious life it was to serve the church. I think I do this best by empowering the people. Raising up their gifts is the most rewarding and fulfilling part of ministry.” This is a summary of the greatest joy Sister Johnette Sawyer, a Benedictine Sister from the Chicago Monastic Community, said of her life time of ministry.
Born and educated in Pueblo, Colorado Sister Johnette went to Saint Mary College in Leavenworth, Kansas, after graduating from the Catholic High School. The Benedictine Sisters of Chicago had taught her in Pueblo and had always impressed her with their kindness. She discerned that God was calling her to religious life in that community. After two years at St. Mary's in Leavenworth she was accepted into the novitiate in Chicago. While receiving her training and undertaking her studies in the Benedictine tradition, Sister Johnette attended DePaul University and prepared herself for ministry in elementary education.
After 9 years in Chicago she returned to Colorado as a teacher in Delta for one year. The next year the community asked her to go to Pueblo. For eight years she taught and later was principal of Saint Leander's Parish School. During this time she continued her education and received a Masters Degree in Elementary Education Administration from Saint Mary’s in Leavenworth. The need for Sisters in Capulin brought her to her first of three periods in the San Luis Valley.
But times were changing and the Catholic schools were closing down. Realizing this, Sister Johnette when to Seattle University and completed her second master's degree: this time in Pastoral Ministry. She returned to St. Leander's as a Pastoral Associate. After a few years she went to the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in Pueblo where she served the community for ten and a half years. Her studies continued in the summer and she was blessed with a wonderful sabbatical at Notre Dame. There are many other workshops and liturgical gatherings that have enriched Sister Johnette. Through them she has been able to pass on the information and spiritual energy to the People of God, the Church she has chosen to serve.
Sister brought this richness of learning and spirituality to the San Luis Valley, this time to Monte Vista, Del Norte and Center. She became part of the team that forms what has come to be known the “San Juan Community” which includes the communities previously mentioned as well as Saguache, South Fork and Creede. The years passed quickly and once again Sister Johnette left the Valley for Pueblo, this time to the newly forming community of St Paul the Apostle in Pueblo West. Six years pass and Father Bill Gleeson invited her to come back to the Valley, this time to Sacred Heart in Alamosa.
Our parish community, and the larger community of Alamosa, has heard the organ and the piano in the church come to life with her touch for six and a half years. We have had many retreats, workshop for Eucharistic ministers, support for care givers, special liturgies, and workshops on grieving. Those of us here at Sacred Heart know that her passion is the liturgy and especially music.
As a child her father made sure that his girls received classes even though a large portion of the family money was used for medical care for her sick mother. Sister Johnette says “Daddy said ‘I don't expect you girls to be great musicians, but I want you to always have a great appreciation of music.’” Little did he know that the seed he made sure was so deeply planted would become a love of Liturgical Music.
An important part of Sister Johnette’s life is the companionship she had during her travels with her beloved kitties. Claret was a part of her life for over a decade. Today she has a new love, Sheba, who you see in the picture with Sister Johnette.
Sacred Heart held a reception in gratitude for the life of ministry she shared with the Parish on Friday, February 3. Stories and pictures of memories of Sister Johnette’s service in the parish were shared as the Parish celebrated her as she moves into the next step of her life.
