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Sister Mary Clare Johnson, IHM, ran to meet her Divine Bridegroom in the early hours of September 23, 2025, surrounded by her religious community. She was supported by the many graces of our faith, especially the Anointing of the Sick and the Apostolic Pardon. Sister Mary Clare had been professed for 37 years, living nearly 40 years of her life in the convent.
Sister Mary Clare was born Brenda Johnson, the oldest daughter of Paul and Joyce, in Whittier, California on March 17, 1961. Soon, she was joined by two sisters, Donna and Jenise. They enjoyed life in California, especially raising horses.
While she was brought up in the Christian faith, it was through friends and acquaintances that she learned about the Catholic Church. There was a spark in her soul that always wanted to know more. Finally, she was able to attend St. Lucy’s Priory for her senior year of high school and this satisfied her deep longing for the truth. Before graduating, she was baptized, confirmed and received her first Holy Communion at St. Frances of Rome Church in Aousa, California. After high school, she worked in banking and showing dogs.
It was not long before she answered the call Jesus had spoken into her heart and entered religious life. She visited different communities but her heart rested with the California Institute of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary; she entered in 1986 and professed her vows in 1988. In 1998, while in Spain celebrating the 150th anniversary of Fr. Joaquin Masmitja’s foundation of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Sister Mary Clare met five IHM’s from Wichita. Her desire to deeper live the IHM charism led her to the IHM’s in Wichita.
She transferred to the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary of Wichita in 2003, shortly after the passing of Sister Giovanni Oliveri, IHM, our last Sister from California. Sister Mary Clare’s arrival at this time was a great grace as she provided a connection to the community’s California roots, a gift the community realized again and again. Her transfer was complete on June 10, 2008, when she renewed her “yes” to Jesus as a Sister of the Immaculate Heart of Mary of Wichita. In 2013, she celebrated her silver jubilee of religious profession.
After her initial formation in California, Sister Mary Clare pursued studies in psychology with a view of doing social work. She was a gifted listener and always open to helping others through their difficulties. After earning a Master’s degree in Education and Administration, this ability was soon put to use in the classroom and as a principal. Sister would go on to also earn a Master’s degree in Theology from St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia.
Sister Mary Clare was an exceptional teacher. She poured so much of herself into her teaching; she wanted them to know the Catholic faith and God’s love for them. Thousands of young people were influenced by her presence in the classroom. Before coming to Wichita, she taught in both California and Arizona. In the Diocese of Wichita, she served at St. Francis of Assisi, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, St. Peter, all in Wichita; St. Mary Elementary, Pittsburg and Holy Cross, Hutchinson. Sr. Mary Clare was currently teaching middle school Religion at Holy Spirit Catholic School in Goddard. In 2016, she received the diocesan St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Distinguished Teacher Award.
Her gifts extended to mentoring new teachers; she would take many under her wing to guide and assist them. Education students would observe her in the classroom (many of them her own Sisters) and be inspired by her gifted teaching.
More than teaching was Sister Mary Clare’s love of Jesus. She had committed her life to our Lord and was dedicated to Him and His Blessed Mother each day. She was faithful to her daily meditation, Holy Mass, Holy Hour, Rosary and other prayers. She wanted to give Him her whole self. She chose St. Clare of Assisi as her patroness for she wanted to imitate the saint’s love for the Eucharist, her simplicity and joyfulness. Sister cherished her time before the Blessed Sacrament.
Her Sisters will miss her kindness, charity and dedication. She was always willing to help another Sister with a project, especially sewing; she had an eye for making projects look perfect! She was attentive to anything the Sisters needed, and most especially, through her prayers. She would respond to prayer requests with a prompt email or write a thoughtful note with promises of prayer.
She loved spending time with her Sisters and would generously lend a helping hand in the kitchen. She loved going on walks, enjoying the silence and beauty of nature. Her family summed up Sister Mary Clare’s being, “Her presence brought comfort, her faith brought strength, and her love brought joy to family friends and parishioners alike.”
Sister Mary Clare is survived by her religious family of 33 Sisters, her mother, Joyce Wenzel, her sisters, Donna (Tim) O’Callaghan and Jenise (Francisco) Lopez; her nieces, Jennifer Koelsch, Lisa Montgomery, Brenna and Meghan O’Callaghan, Cassandra Valencia, Sarah Fuentes; her nephews, Sean O’Callaghan, Dominic De Santo, Angel and Noah Fuentes; aunt Betty (John) Coventry and Bonny Collins. She was preceded in death by her father, Paul Johnson, Jr, and her step-father, Dave Wenzel.
Rosary will be 7:00 pm, Friday, September 26, 2025, with Funeral Mass at 10:00 am, Saturday, September 27, 2025, both at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church. Services will be lived streamed and available for viewing by clicking on the link below. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Building Fund of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, 3550 North 167th Street West, Colwich, Kansas 67030.
May Jesus, her most loving Spouse have mercy on her.
Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace. May her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.