†Sister Julia Mae Groulx, OP

Eye has not seen; ear has not heard . . .
what God has ready for those who love . . .. 1 Cor: 2-9

This passage from Corinthians fits Sister Julia Mae very well. In anticipation of the day when she would see and hear what God had prepared for her, she went about her long and adventurous life seeing, hearing, and visiting everyone and every place possible ahead of time. Sister Julia Mae was not one to miss an opportunity to travel. Her expeditions included: Spain, Morocco, Israel, France, Belgium, England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Canada, Mexico, Japan, Australia, Hawaii, and many other places.

Catherine Julia, the sixth of thirteen children of William and Catherine Badour Groulx, was born May 5, 1926, in Munger, Michigan. She was known as her mother’s “delight” until seven more children were born, and then she became the family’s “little mother” helping with the work in the home and on the farm.

Catherine began her education at Merritt School in Munger and was the first of her family to complete high school, graduating in 1941. She started at Prescott school in Hale, but soon transferred to Whittemore High after her father bought a new farm. She graduated as valedictorian, and the family approved of her going on to college. She enrolled in the County Normal School at Bay City Junior College paying tuition by working and taking classes. She received her certificate to teach in 1947 and was awarded a two-year scholarship to Central Michigan University. She used this scholarship during the summers while teaching grades one through eight during the school year. However, a persistent question haunted her: “What am I doing for my true faith?”

So, in September 1949 Catherine entered the Dominicans, with whom she had become acquainted at Central Michigan. As a postulant, she was sent to teach at St. Thomas School, where one of her pupils was Mary Brigid Clingman, who later entered the congregation. At reception she took the name of Sister Julia Mae. After her first vows in 1951, she taught for twenty-eight years in Muskegon, Grand Rapids, Beal City, Carrollton, Saginaw, Ravenna, Beaver Island, Melvindale, Belen, Alpena, and Bay City. In most of these schools she taught grades 6th through 8th. In Belen, New Mexico, and in Saginaw, Michigan, she also served as principal. She earned an MA in Religious Education from Aquinas College in 1966 and an MA in elementary school teaching from Western Michigan University in 1970.

Retiring from the classroom, Sister Julia Mae assumed the responsibilities of the coordinator for religious education and pastoral ministry at St. Mary, Carson City. In 1984, she added duties at St. Mary’s and St. John the Baptist, Hubbardston, as Director of Religious Education and Pastoral Minister.

The year 1989-90 was the most adventuresome of Sister Julia Mae’s life. She traveled to the Heisei Foreign Language Institute in Japan as a teacher of English Conversation. She was stationed in Onga-Gun where she lived in a small apartment. She loved teaching and experiencing Japanese culture. Before returning to the States, she even took advantage of the relative proximity to build in a trip to Australia which was only a little more than 4,000 miles due south of Japan.

Between 1990 and 1996, Sister Julia Mae was a live-in companion for two older women. The experience of assisting older people prepared her for her next ministry. She became bereavement coordinator for SS. Peter & Paul Parish, Ionia.

Another great adventure was 1995, the pilgrimage to the Lands of Dominic. Finally, in 2008 she retired to live at Marywood and serve as campus photographer and continued to take advantage of shorter trips closer to home whenever possible.

Her hobbies and interests were wide-ranging and included crocheting, photography, traveling, knitting, calligraphy, sewing, walking, visiting, and embroidering. Many of her quilts and crocheted table toppers were sold at the Marywood Health Center gift shop.

Having relished the sights and sounds of God’s creation in this world, Julia Mae departed on her last journey to see what eye had not seen, nor ear heard – for surely marvels await this dear sister who loved and was loved in return.

Thank You, Sr. Julia Mae

Sister Julia Mae Groulx holds a special place in my heart and I think of her often. I attended Holy Rosary Academy in Bay City Michigan, grades K through 8, 1968-1977. Coming from a dysfunctional divorced family, Sister Julia Mae was so kind to me, made me feel that she cared. ~ Elizabeth Anderson