Sister Judi entered religious life with the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in Cincinnati in 1958. After formation, she taught Spanish for 4 years at Carroll High School in Dayton, Ohio as a member of the first faculty. From Dayton, Sister Judi went to Bishop Hartley High School, Columbus, where she taught Spanish and Religion for one year.
In 1968 Sister Judi left for Brazil. In 1968 Brazil was a military dictatorship and the Latin American Bishops met in Medellin to read the Vatican II Documents in the light of their lived reality. Thus the Base Christian Communities were born. After completing CENFI (Center for Intercultural Formation) she went to Coroatá, Maranhão, and lived in a community with Sisters Joan Krimm, Jo Depweg, and Dorothy Stang. In the early '70's she moved to São Domingos do Maranhão. Sister Judi dedicated herself to the building of Base Christian Communities and in 1987, as State Coordinator of CEBs for the 11 dioceses, wrote a book entitled É Bom Lembrar (It is Good to Remember), a 20-year history of CEBs in the State of Maranhão. Sister Judi served on the staff of CENFI, Center for Intercultural Formation at the National Conference of Brazilian Bishops in Brasilia from 1979-1981. Her last mission in Brazil was in Caxias, Maranhão where she served as Diocesan Pastoral Coordinator.
Sister Judi returned to the US in 1990 and worked for eighteen years in pastoral ministry among Brazilian Immigrants in Boston and Miami, Florida until 2008. Sister Judi then served as site director for Notre Dame Mission Volunteers/ AmeriCorps, Cincinnati before being elected to the Ohio Provincial Team in June 2010. Upon completion of her five-year term in leadership, Sister Judi accepted the role of Notre Dame Mission Volunteers Chair of the Board of Directors. Sister Judi is an ardent advocate for immigrant rights. She also continues to accept speaking engagements about Sister Dorothy Stang’s life and legacy. Sister Judi resides at Mount Notre Dame in Reading, Ohio.