Julie was courageous and creative.

She founded the Congregation of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in 1804. Convinced that education was an essential need of girls and women, she developed a systematic program of formal schooling for young girls. Julie was courageous and creative.

By the time of her death in 1816, Julie had established 19 schools in five dioceses of northeast France and Belgium.

Julie applied her innovative, creative gifts to the Congregation.

She thought that the Congregation should not be limited to any one diocese. It would depend on the leadership of women in the person of a Superior General. The idea was not welcomed by the Bishop of Amiens.

Julie believed that the Sisters should be one rank in keeping with the new thinking about human dignity. All Sisters would be equal with no distinctions of "lay Sister" or "choir Sister."