Originally from a farm in Southwestern Ontario, Julia O’Shea VanSpall (“Julie”) moved to BC in 1992 to pursue her dream of teaching. After marrying Stephen VanSpall, she became a stay-home mom to their four children for ten years before returning to her career. Julie currently teaches at IC Delta School and has been writing for the BC Catholic since 2006.
On September 24, Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen will be beatified. This means that he has reached the final stage before canonization as a recognized saint in the Catholic Church. … Continued
In my last column, I reflected on some general insights from Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas (Magnificent Humanity). I now wish to explore the five main takeaways from the … Continued
Since its release in May 2026, I have been delving into Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas (Magnificent Humanity). This document, subtitled “On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of … Continued
When I was about thirteen years old, I caught myself in yet another conversation with … myself. As the only girl in a family with three brothers, I had my … Continued
Teaching a subject is one of the quickest ways to learn it. When one takes deliberate measures to break down a concept in order to explain it to someone else, … Continued
Growing up, I was taught to pray the Rosary, but I don’t think I truly understood the relationships it is meant to foster. In university, a Protestant friend found my … Continued
The month of May is dedicated to Mary, the Mother of God. Growing up, I was taught to pray the Rosary, but I don’t think I truly understood the relationships … Continued
As mentioned in previous columns, I have been striving to live with Easter joy, from deliberately focusing on the everyday joys of life to truly pondering all that the Resurrection … Continued
Throughout Lent, I tried to focus on the concept of “joy.” In the midst of the personal sacrifices, the extra time in prayer, and the “desert” of entering a spiritual … Continued
This year during Lent, I read the book First Belong to God: On Retreat with Pope Francis. Written in 2024 by Austen Ivereigh, the book shares many teachings of Pope Francis … Continued