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Julie Fertsch, SSJ
Chestnut Hill

For the past 25 years, I have led a wonderfully, exciting life. I was born and raised in a section of Northeast Philadelphia called Mayfair. I come from a good family and I am the oldest of three children. I attended St. Matthew Grade School and then St. Hubert High School for Girls. At St. Hubert, I first met the Sisters of St. Joseph, and there my life dramatically changed. My junior year English teacher greatly inspired me. She was caring, compassionate, enthusiastic, energetic, passionate, and REAL. Her sense of integrity and authenticity impressed me. We all loved her and I wanted to be just like her.

For years, I dreamed of attending Arcadia University--I wanted to swim on a college swim team and major in secondary education. I was encouraged to consider a few other schools--just in case. I remembered my favorite teacher graduated from Chestnut Hill College (a sponsored work of the SSJ's), and I thought about going there. Moments later, thoughts of becoming a Sister of St. Joseph entered my mind and heart, and I have never been able to let them go.

In August of 1996, I began at Chestnut Hill College. Very much like high school, I got involved in everything. I majored in History and minored in Theology and French. I played three sports, participated in Student Government, many different clubs, Campus Ministry, coached a swim team, went to parties, had boyfriends, and became extremely passionate about service and social justice. I went on service trips for three years with the Good Works Program sponsored by the SSJ's. I traveled to Mexico on mission immersion experiences, taught English at the SSJ Literacy Project and religious education in Camden, NJ, and volunteered in a soup kitchen in Philadelphia. In addition, I tried to get to know as many Sisters of St. Joseph as possible--without looking too interested!

After college, I joined the Jesuit Volunteer Corps and served as a program assistant at the Old Firehouse Shelter in Birmingham, AL. When I finished, I returned to the Philadelphia area, taught 6th, 7th, and 8th grade at St. Joseph's Pro-Cathedral School in Camden, NJ, and began my formation program. The following year, I traveled to the mountains of Peru and had the wonderful opportunity of living and working with a Sister of St. Joseph and the people of Peru. Four months later, I returned to Philadelphia to continue with my formation. I got a job teaching Theology at Mercy Vocational High School and moved to St. Hugh Convent. I lived there for seven months and then became a novice on August 28, 2003. Throughout this time of novitiate, my experiences have continued to be rich and exciting. My love for God and all of God's people grows deeper and wider with each encounter, each experience. My desire to be more like Jesus as a Sister of St. Joseph burns deep in my heart.

I am so grateful for this opportunity to participate in the Federation Novitiate Program. I am confident that God's plans for me throughout this experience, and for the rest of my life will be far greater than I can possibly hope for or imagine.