Sister Margaret Ann became an overnight internet sensation after the Miami Dade Police Department uploaded a video of her using a chainsaw to clean the debris Hurricane Irma left behind. Now nicknamed the Chainsaw Nun, Sister Ann is the principal at Archbishop Coleman F. Carroll High School.
“The students are telling me, they are saying, ‘Sister, you’re no wimp. You’ll get out there and work with us.’,” she told the Associated Press. “And that is really the way it should be, and that’s the way sisters really are. We are not just sitting back praying, or asking other people, or begging for money or anything like that.”
An off-duty police officer from the MDPD shared the video of the Florida nun on the police department’s social media accounts and thanked her for the help on behalf of the entire Miami Dade County, saying, “We are #OneCommunity in @MiamiDadeCounty!”
He also said:
“Thank you Sister and all of our neighbors that are working together to get through this!”
In a Facebook post, the school announced they had minor damages from the storm, but they were able to resume classes within a week. They lost some trees thanks to Hurricane Irma, but nothing that the Chainsaw Nun couldn’t handle.
Sister Ann admitted that she used Google to find instructions on how to operate the electric chainsaw since she had not used it in quite some time. “The students have told me everything is online, sister; just ask the question online,” she said.
Becoming a global phenomenon is the last thing on Sister Ann’s mind, worrying instead about helping her community. Her students, however, enjoy seeing her receive such attention, and some have jokingly asked for the Florida Nun’s autograph.
The community has also shown their appreciation for Sister Ann. “People are driving by and saying, ‘Thank you, sister, thank you.’ So I think it has been really good for our community,” she said. “And I understand that the video has really gone worldwide, so that’s kinda funny.”
Some Internet users, though, have pointed out to her that she did not use the tool as safely as she could, saying her habit could get stuck in the chainsaw. Others also criticized the police officer for not helping the Florida nun with the cleaning.
Despite the negative comments, many people love the fact that a nun got her hands dirty in the name of helping others. With so many hurricanes, earthquakes, and other disasters currently happening, individuals like Sister Margaret Ann give the world some hope.