By Steve Ritchie
Sister Julia McGanty, OSB, will celebrate her 60th anniversary of religious profession on Sunday, July 19, at Queen of Angels Monastery in Mt. Angel.
Born in Yamhill, Ore., to William and Margaret McGanty, Sr. Julia (Cecelia) McGanty attended St. John’s Church in Yamhill as a child and attended schools in Yamhill and McMinnville. She continued her education while in boarding school at Mt. Angel Academy and also attended Mt. Angel College. Influenced by the prayer life of the Benedictine Sisters, Cecelia asked to enter the religious community and professed her vows on Feb. 10, 1949, taking the name of Sister Julia.
Sister Julia taught religion at St. Mary Parish in Mt. Angel for 16 years, and at St. Paul Parish in Silverton, as well as teaching religious education classes in many other parishes throughout Oregon. She has been active in hospitality, chauffeuring, arts and music ministries while continuing her life of prayer and service with the Benedictine Sisters.
Sr. Julia has served in a variety of ministries during her community life, including work in food service at Mt. Angel Abbey. In 1954 she was called to serve at Christie Indian Residential School on Meares Island in British Columbia, where she supervised playground sports and performed nursing and cooking duties for the school. When Sr. Julia returned to Mt. Angel, she worked at the Benedictine Village Home, the Benedictine Nursing Home, and the Monastery’s health center.
60th anniversary Sunday,
July 19 1 to 4 p.m.
Queen of the Angels Monastery
840 S. Main St., Mt. Angel
In 1974 Sr. Julia attended the Academy of Hair Design in Salem and became a licensed cosmetologist. Following her graduation, she began working at LaDonna’s Beauty Center in Silverton, and, later, at Visions Salon and Spa, where she is presently employed. She has donated hair care services at the River House, Marquis Care Silver Gardens, the Davenport House, and within her own community of sisters.
Throughout her work in the community, Sr. Julia has found that serving the community is a source of blessings and joy, she said.
