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‘It’s Sister Julia Day!’
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Sister of the Living Word Julia Stump (pictured above) says she will miss “the people” most when she retires to Chicago this summer. On May 11, Sister Julia was honored for her 58 years of service to St. Edward the Confessor Parish and School, a legacy that includes being a co-founder of the latter. For more photos, please visit the Clarion Herald’s Facebook page. (Photos by Beth Donze, Clarion Herald)
It was clear who the guest of honor was.
By BETH DONZE
Clarion Herald
On the morning of May 11, the face of Sister of the Living Word Julia Stump smiled back from large pins worn by everyone inside St. Edward the Confessor Church during a year-ending school Mass celebrated in Sister Julia’s honor.
St. Edward the Confessor School designated the entire day as “Sister Julia Day,” hosting a slate of campus activities honoring their school’s beloved co-founder, who is retiring to her religious community’s Chicago residence in July after a whopping 58 years of education ministry at the Metairie parish and school.
“I am going to miss the people the most – and the food,” said Sister Julia, who co-established St. Edward the Confessor School with her late colleague – Sister of the Living Word Mary de Lourdes Charbonnet – in 1965, a year in which most of surrounding area was undeveloped woods.
During the bulk of her time there, Sister Julia taught religion to first, fourth and fifth graders and was an instructor in the Parish School of Religion.
Prior to her lengthy tenure at St. Edward the Confessor, Sister Julia, a native of Michigan, taught religion for six years at St. Henry Elementary School in Uptown New Orleans.
Many ‘fingerprints’
The day-long celebration began with Mass celebrated by St. Edward’s pastor, Father Joseph Man Tran, with music provided by the school’s vocal and bell choirs.
Before the liturgy began, Dr. RaeNell Houston, superintendent of the archdiocesan Department of Catholic Education and Faith Formation, conveyed the deep gratitude of Archbishop Gregory Aymond for Sister Julia’s dedication of her life to local students and their families before presenting her with a medal of service from the Archdiocese of New Orleans.
During the homily, Father Tran thanked Sister Julia for dedicating her life to the church, “especially to the education of children.” He noted that she is known for always being someone who “nurtures” others.
“When you touch something, you will leave behind your fingerprints; when you walk somewhere, you will leave behind your footprints,” Father Tran told the young congregants, their teachers and St. Edward alumni attending the special Mass. “Sister Julia, you have left behind fingerprints and footprints in the hearts of so many students – and adults!”
Alluding to the Mass’ Gospel from St. John, in which Jesus tells his disciples that if they truly love him, they will accept his Commandments and “do what I have taught you,” Father Tran said a similar parallel could be made about embracing the lessons of faith modeled by Sister Julia over her many decades at St. Edward Parish and School.
“If we say that we ‘love’ Sister Julia, we must remember all of the things that she taught us here (at St. Edward) – about love, about service, about so many things,” Father Tran said. “May the Lord continue to bless her with wisdom.”
Before congregants were dismissed from church, Jefferson Parish Councilman Dominick Impastato read and presented a letter of thanks to Sister Julia from Parish President Cynthia Lee-Cheng. Impastato also read a proclamation from the parish council that documented Sister Julia’s ministerial milestones and officially designated the day as “Sister Julia Day” throughout Jefferson Parish.
“When you talk about a ‘rock of faith,’ that’s Sister Julia!” said Dr. Thomas Becker, St. Edward’s principal. “She always has this gentle but compelling way of saying, ‘You need to adjust this a little bit’ – to help students be their best selves.”
Messages of love
The day of celebration also included class performances in Sister Julia's honor, popcorn, games and a banner in the teachers’ lounge with handwritten messages from faculty and staff. One of the messages indicated the multiple generations Sister Julia had guided at the school.
“How lucky am I to have had you as a student, a co-worker and a friend,” wrote Debbie St. Romain, a St. Edward pre-K2 teacher. “I will miss you!”
Sister Julia’s fellow Sister of the Living Word – St. Edward’s middle school religion teacher Sister Elizabeth Hebert – summed up her friend’s legacy in one sentence: “You are truly a LIVING WORD!”
Yet another surprise awaited Sister Julia at lunchtime: her favorite dessert.“She loves root beer floats,” said Principal Becker, grinning, “but only with Barq’s root beer!”
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