57 years as religious have all been for ‘my kids,’ says Sister Johnnie

October 15, 2015
Tom Burke

Dominican Sister John Martin Fixa will be honored Oct. 28 with the St. Vincent de Paul Society of San Francisco’s Brennan Award. Sister Johnnie will be recognized for her almost six decades as teacher and administrator and executive director of the sisters’ “Vision of Hope,” formed in 1995 to provide affordable Catholic education for children of inner-city Catholic elementary schools.

Sister Johnnie is a graduate of San Francisco’s St. James School and Immaculate Conception Academy where she met the Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose.

“My elementary and high school teachers were my role models,” Sister Johnnie told me via email about why she chose the Dominican Sisters of MSJ. “They were happy people and so good with children. They had a real passion for their ministry, and they taught students how to love. I felt a real pull to their joyful spirit. And I wanted to be part of an education that was changing lives.”

For the last nearly 60 years she has been doing just that and perhaps especially during the last 20 years as head of “Vision of Hope.” She called herself “privileged and overwhelmed” on being named to receive the Brennan Award. “It’s an honor and an opportunity to tell the ‘Vision of Hope’ story. I feel my selection was God-directed. This is the 20th anniversary year for ‘Vision of Hope.’ We’re holding hands in a shared mission –– St. Vincent de Paul Society serves the poor outside the classroom, ‘Vision of Hope’ serves the poor inside the classroom.”

Sister Johnnie says she “can’t imagine a scenario with no Catholic schools.” Nationwide since 2005, 21 percent of Catholic schools have closed. “Vision of Hope” serves eight inner-city elementary schools statewide including San Francisco’s St. James and St. Anthony Immaculate Conception.

“Catholic education is integrated learning with an emphasis on faith and community, while fulfilling our obligation to keep up with academic trends and standards,” Sister Johnnie said. “We need to form leaders who have strong moral values, who have their faith to hold onto in knowing how to handle challenges and make the best choices.”

Sister Johnnie calls the founding of “Vision of Hope” among the greater of her moments as a religious. She remembers fondly how the sisters’ “unanimous ‘yes’” was the “beginning of making miracles” that have impacted the lives of thousands of students and families. The sisters’ call to “serve the young, the poor, the vulnerable” was tangible, Sister Johnnie said.

We all have a hand in good works, Sister Johnnie exhorted: “It’s hard to make the commitment, but the future of the church depends on our commitment to Catholic schools especially in the inner-city.”

SATURDAY, OCT. 24, YOUNG ADULT CONFERENCE: Daylong event at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Gough Street at Geary Boulevard, San Francisco. Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone is principal celebrant of opening Mass. San Diego Bishop Robert McElroy, former liaison to young adults in the Archdiocese of San Francisco, will deliver keynote address. Young adults age 18-40 are invited whether married, single, with or without children. The day includes a track for kids as well as a session for them and their folks along with speakers addressing the young adult today

GOSPEL JAZZ MASS: It’s an annual spirit-moving and Spirit-moved event, the Gospel Jazz Mass Oct. 17, 5:30 p.m., St. Mary’s Cathedral, Gough Street at Geary Boulevard, San Francisco. All are welcome, Diane Crowther, director of music, St. Paul of the Shipwreck Church conducts. Voices include combined Bay Area Gospel Choir, Inspiration Voices of Shipwreck, Sacred Heart/St. Boniface singers, Our Lady of Lourdes choir, San Francisco, and St. Columba choir, Oakland. Doug Benbow, director of liturgy, (415) 567-2020, ext. 220. While we’re here, please let me lead a hats off and a big ‘thank you’ to Doug and all who coordinate and facilitate cathedral events.

Email items and electronic pictures – jpegs at no less than 300 dpi to burket@sfarchdiocese.org or mail to Street, One Peter Yorke Way, San Francisco 94109. Include a follow-up phone number. Street is toll-free. My phone number is (415) 614-5634.