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.
“When you pray, you talk to God the way you do a friend.” These words of St. Andre Bessette resonate with me. Each morning, I talk to God in a … Continued
When I was a teenager, I was handed a prayer card as I left Mass one Sunday. This Little Flower Society card was my introduction to St. Therese. Instantly, I … Continued
Have you ever noticed that just when you think you have everything planned and under control, something changes? In my early twenties, I had my heart set on going to … Continued
This year the theme for the Catholic Independent Schools of the Vancouver Archdiocese is “What do you want of me, Lord?” For our staff retreat, we contemplated this theme and … Continued
Walking along the country roads by my parents’ home, it is not uncommon to notice grains of wheat that have blown off farm wagons. Having grown up on a farm, … Continued
“Seek and ye shall find.” (Matthew 7: 7) My family and I have engaged in quite a few geocaching adventures over the last few years. Geocaching has provided a fun … Continued
For a while, the calendar has been telling me that summer is here, but with school finished, it now feels official! The slate of Summer 2018 is virtually blank and … Continued
Lately, I have been praying for the ability to be in touch with my motives in life. Generally, I feel that I come from a good place. I try to … Continued
Locked in my memory is a moment in time from about 10 years ago. All four of my children and I were at a school Mass, which in and of … Continued
A few years ago, a friend and fellow teacher attended a motivational workshop. Already a very optimistic and positive person, she left her session energized with the new term “green … Continued