Here is how Sister Margaret Ann became a celebrity

Archbishop Coleman F. Carroll High School principal leads by example

KENDALL, Fla. – The storm left downed trees and branches all around Archbishop Coleman F. Carroll High School in Southwest Miami-Dade's Kendall neighborhood.

Sister Margaret Ann Laechelin saw a driver spin in the mud, off the road and nearly crash into a wall. The road was blocked and someone could get hurt, she thought, and whe knew there were chainsaws in the closet. 

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Despite the hot sun, the Carmelite Sister of the Most Sacred Heart always wears the traditional dark tunic, her white bonnet and a waist-length black veil. The nun's holy habit didn't stop her. She put on some gloves.

Laechelin is also the school principal. The rank didn't stop her either. She knew time was of the essence. The resourceful Catholic nun used Google to get instructions, grabbed the chainsaw and got to work on some fallen trees in the Hammocks area. 

A Miami-Dade police officer shared a video showing her contribution to the clean up effort near 167th Avenue and 103rd Street. 

"I understand that the video has really gone worldwide, so that’s kinda funny," the modest nun said about becoming known worldwide as the "chainsaw sister."

There was a "Nun with a chainsaw hash tag" on social media. 

Reporters from The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN, Fox News, Inside Edition, CBS News, NPR and other media took notice of her willingness to help. The Archdiocese of Miami plans to reopen Catholic schools Tuesday and Sister Margaret Ann plans to be there to welcome her 400 students. 

"The students are telling me, they are saying, 'Sister, you are no wimp! You will get out there and work with us.' And that is really the way it should be," she said. "That's the way sisters really are. We are not just sitting back praying."

 


About the Author:

The Emmy Award-winning journalist joined the Local 10 News team in 2013. She wrote for the Miami Herald for more than 9 years and won a Green Eyeshade Award.