Friends of Holy Trinity Catholic School

Guardian Angel Gives $100,000 to Holy Trinity Catholic School

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 Edward J. 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 acknowledgement 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 Sandersons 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 John P. Cawley, pastor at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, added that in Dallas there are hundreds of deserving young Catholic elementary school students who are in local public schools who could gain much from a Catholic education now and in the future. In order to attend Holy Trinity Catholic School, their parents only need to pay a portion of the actual cost of education. The remaining expense often comes in the form of scholarships and tuition assistance- with guardian angels like Julia Sanderson making that 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.