Sr. Julia Mae Burkart
Sister Julia Burkart was born to her parents Gladys (Mischler) and Barney Burkart on February 16, 1928 in New Orleans, LA. She passed away June 22, 2020 at age 92 from Covid-19.
Before joining the Medical Mission Sisters (MMS) in 1948, Sister Julia completed two and a half years of study at Dominican College in New Orleans, LA. She made her First Vows as a Medical Mission Sister in 1950 and Final Vows in 1955. In 1952 Sister Julia received a B.A. from Trinity College in Washington, DC and immediately began studies at Catholic University, also in Washington, D.C. She graduated with a master’s degree in Library Science in 1953, after which she worked in the MMS library and in publicity in Philadelphia until 1956. From Philadelphia Sister Julia traveled to Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan where she worked in the admissions office for four and a half years. She then moved to the Philippines where she served in the novitiate office. She left the Philippines after one year due to health reasons. For the next several years Sister Julia worked as a librarian in MMS’s Philadelphia office, and in Washington, D.C., and as a staff member at St. Vincent’s Hospital and Child Study Center in Philadelphia.