Birth Date: January 29
Where: Samoa
Vows Received: August 4, 2002
Do not be afraid to open up your heart to Christ. Allow Jesus in your life
Sr. Julia was born on January 29, 1975, on the island of Samoa. She attended primary school at St. Joan of Arc in Leulumoega (1980–1981) and St. Peter in Falefa (1982–1988), followed by secondary school at St. Mary’s College in Vaimoso from 1989 to 1991 (SLC). Continuing her education at the university level, Sr. Julia earned a Master in Theology of Consecrated Life from the Claretianum Institute (Rome, 2008), a Formator Diploma from the Pontifical Faculty of Educational Sciences “Auxilium” (Rome, 2011), a Certificate in Early Childhood Education (Sogi, Samoa, 2018), and completed coursework toward a Bachelor of Education in ECE (Samoa, 2023–2026), graduating in April 2027.
In 1991, at just 16 years old, Sr. Julia left home for Italy to begin her religious formation with the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters of Faith in Aquino, Italy. She professed her final vows on August 4, 2002, the feast of Saint John Vianney. Reflecting on her journey, Sr. Julia shares:
“To be honest, I went to Italy with no idea what religious life is. Rome was only a word that you see in the Bible, so I was curious to discover this heavenly place. The idea of becoming a nun entered my mind as we journeyed together during formation. In fact, I was among the last of my group to enter the novitiate in 1993, but it was worth the wait. What attracted me most was living and sharing with young women from different nations—not just material things, but talents, stories, friendships, disagreements, and common ground. Community life truly opened my heart and sparked my desire to become a religious. Looking back, that love for community life was my very first encounter with my future spouse.”<
Sr. Julia brings a wealth of diverse pastoral experience. Beginning in 1992, she taught at an infant school in Appignano, Italy. From 1993 to 1999, she served as an assistant at the Home for the Aged in Sulmona, followed by service at the Parish Shrine of the Virgin Mary in Rome (1999–2000). She returned to early education in Candelo Biella from 2000 to 2006, and later served as a clerk in the Parochial Office at St. Peter’s in the Vatican (2006–2011). Returning to Samoa, she served as the Formator of Postulants and Novices from 2013 to 2025, while also teaching infant and Sunday school classes (2012–2026) and serving as youth animator at the Parish of Mary Immaculate and Corpus Christi (2015–2026).
Christ the King Parish is blessed to welcome Sr. Julia as the new Director of Religious Education, answering the mandate of her Superior General in holy obedience to serve our parish community in Hawaii.
Sr. Julia encourages all students to hold close the words of Pope Saint John Paul II: “Do not be afraid to open up your heart to Christ. Allow Jesus in your life.” She urges them to remain joyful, grateful, and to enjoy life through wise discernment. To parents, she extends her deepest gratitude for willingly bringing their children to God and keeping faith as the true foundation of the family.
Looking ahead, Sr. Julia hopes to cultivate a warm, welcoming environment where families feel at home, establish programs that support faith formation for parents and children alike, expand activities and engagement for young families, and foster an atmosphere filled with Christian love and friendship throughout the Religious Education program.
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