Monday, September 24, 2007

Holy Trinity Catholic School receives $100,000 from “guardian angel”

By Pegasus News wire

As a young child, Julia Sanderson attended Catholic schools in Minnesota in the 1930s. But her family came on hard times. Fortunately for Sanderson, a guardian angel watched over her -- an anonymous donor paid to continue her Catholic education. From that day, Sanderson made a promise to herself that when she grew up, if she had the means, she would do the same.

Julia Sanderson died in May 2006. But in her will, she left $100,000 to Holy Trinity Catholic School for tuition assistance.

“Last September, I received a letter which included all the beneficiaries’ names in the will," said Ed Doherty, principal of the 93-year-old school in the heart of Oak Lawn/Uptown area of Dallas. “The school was designated to receive the largest amount.”

The money Sanderson donated is already being used for tuition assistance, helping more than 40 students this school year. Sanderson has become their guardian angel.

Julia Ann (Jourdan) Sanderson was born in a small city in Wisconsin in 1920s. She was raised and went to school in Minnesota before moving to Dallas in 1952 where she met and married Paul Sanderson. They never had any children. Paul Sanderson died in September 1992.

In the 1990s, Sanderson called Dr. Ned Vanders, principal of Holy Trinity Catholic School from 1991 to 2005, and asked if the school needed any tuition assistance.

“Julia would come by every fall with a check,” Vanders said. “She came for three to four years before she passed away. She never wanted any acknowledgment or recognition. I wanted to write her a thank you letter, but she always told not to waste the stationary or the stamp.”

Sanderson and Vanders would have talks about the school, kids and “our mission.” Vanders never dreamed she would leave the school so much money.

“She was a very nice and a very kind person with a true calling to be present to people as educators — that we are the embodiment of Christ,” said Vanders, now the superintendent of schools in the diocese of Austin.

Friends of Julia Sanderson described her as “much loved and respected” and one in particular left a note that said, “Julia was my sassy friend, and she hoped that other girls will (graduate from) Holy Trinity with the same spark and independence that Julia had.”

Father Jack Cawley, pastor at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, added that Julia Sanderson recognized the same strengths in the parish school that parents also recognize. “Holy Trinity provides excellent academic preparation for future success. In recent years, our students have placed into AP courses at Ursuline, Jesuit, Bishop Dunne and Bishop Lynch. We also have an inclusive, caring environment where all students and families are welcome. It is a very special school which generous people like Julia help make possible”

Angels come in all shapes and sizes, and Holy Trinity Catholic School has a wonderful angel watching over it. Thanks to Julia Sanderson, many other students will have the opportunity to continue their Catholic education, just as she did many years ago.

Source: Holy Trinity Catholic School

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