Julie's in "Her Right Spot"

This article originally appeared in the November 2009 issue of The Epigram.

JULIE’S IN “HER RIGHT SPOT” By Brenda Childress

Julie Stuart, our new parish nurse, and her husband, Jay, have been Epiphany members for seven years. For twelve years, Julie worked in a doctors’ office, and then began pursuing her Masters in Pastoral Studies, completed this past December. I asked Julie what prompted her to change gears, and she told me she very much desired to combine her faith with her nursing skills. Julie said the turning point in her life came when she helped her grandfather through his death journey, and she felt a conversion and transformation take place within her. She knew at that time the direction she wanted her life career to go, and now her “dream has come true”.

I wondered what personal attributes she had that would distinguish her as our nurse, and she gave me some beautiful examples. Julie has a deep love and devotion for the elderly and the handicapped, for which she is strong advocate. She also has a special interest, and feels so drawn to, helping people through their death journey.

As parish nurse, Julie oversees the bereavement committee, healing blanket ministry, health fairs, doctor visit transportation. She coordinates with AARP for our driver safety training, acts as our health advocate, and assists Father Jeff with visits and care of the sick. She has dedicated volunteers, and would greatly welcome more!

Julie is a Eucharistic minister and bread baker, and she and Jay are part of the Archdiocese’s Engaged Encounter. She’s a busy woman. She lives her life with fervor. As Bishop Francis Kelly said, “Convictions are the mainsprings of action, the driving powers of life. What a woman lives are her convictions.”