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.
“Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When … Continued
I recently had the privilege of hearing John O’Leary speak at the Catholic Educators’ Conference in Vancouver. To say the talk was inspiring would be a gross understatement. On so … Continued
Aren’t we all experts in our own minds? I think most of us tend to feel we are “right.” I’ll admit I can be a snob about certain things. I … Continued
After several years of classroom teaching, three years ago I began working as a learning resource teacher. This opportunity presents me with many opportunities to grow as both an educator … Continued
Recently a friend sent me a gorgeous flower arrangement. The array of burgundy, coral, yellow, and various tones of pink formed a unique and striking combination. The varying styles and … Continued
According to the Cambridge Dictionary, an epiphany is “a moment when you suddenly feel that you understand, or suddenly become conscious of, something that is very important to you.” We … Continued
This Advent, I was blessed with the opportunity to attend a retreat led by Lisa Marquis. She shared her insights as a former consecrated woman and, now, the mother of … Continued
I love Advent. On the heels of the autumn time change, which renders every evening dark and dreary, twinkling lights gradually appear on houses, delighting with beauty and surprise as … Continued
“… humbly regard others as more important than yourselves” – (Phil 2:3) The Grade 4 students in my school have been working on the assignment of writing modern-day parables. Many … Continued
Growing up, I learned about the origins of Remembrance Day at home and at school. I had not been directly impacted by war, but many older relatives and friends had … Continued