Christmas News From Father Regis

To Our Dear Friends,

You and I see them every day.  

Women alone, without a home, defenseless, with few options that will put them on the path toward a better life.

But there’s something else you and I get to see, thanks to your generosity:  women who choose to join us in the Julia Greeley Home, motivated to learn, to improve, and to discover their Christian dignity.  

Because of you, women who enter the Julia Greeley Home have every opportunity to emerge as self-sufficient, productive citizens.  And this year, they continued to do just that!  

This year, in spite of the pandemic, civil unrest, and continued uncertainty, you kept the doors of the Julia Greeley Home open.  But you did much more than that. You provided a safe, nurturing, Christian environment for women who would have otherwise been completely at the mercy of the streets.  So many people were at a standstill.  But the women of the Julia Greeley Home rose to the occasion, supporting each other and developing their talents and skills while they prepare to depart and thrive on their own.  

You can continue to help these amazing women soar with a gift today.  Look at what you’ve already done!

“Rae,” a former military wife, was living in a motel for the homeless, just down the hall from violent drug users. Divorce and her son’s death had propelled her into danger. In tears, she called the Julia Greeley Home, begging for a chance to join us. Renewed by our God-centered support, Rae was able in a few months to find safe, permanent housing. “Thank you for the chance to recuperate and start a new life!” she wrote to us. “You have made a difference in my life!”

After her divorce, “Wendy” was estranged from family and homeless. In her 60’s, she was sure she was too old to start over again. At the Julia Greeley Home she regained her confidence and began to build on her former career as a seamstress. Today she is happily decorating her own apartment and continuing to build on her sewing expertise.

“Lily” courageously left a violent living situation and had nowhere to go. At the Julia Greeley Home she refocused her goals, determined to move ahead at a service industry job she had held for a while. Stabilized by our support and encouragement, she was promoted to a manager’s position, and eventually gained the income and inner strength to live – and thrive — on her own.

The stories of Rae, Wendy and Lily may shatter the image you have of a homeless person. In fact, many women who are alone and homeless come from “normal” families and educational backgrounds. It often takes just one crisis, combined with financial hardship, to send a woman into an unexpectedly brutal world. God grieves for these women, and for all women faced with the harshness of our present society. You are doing His work by rescuing them from danger and exploitation!

In the face of all adversity, you gave these women the opportunity to thrive! Because of the safe haven you provided, these women continue to regain their Christian dignity…one joyful, productive, day at a time.

Your generosity is helping the Julia Greeley Home to grow as an organization, too:  this October we welcomed our first Executive Director, Dr. Mary Callan.  It is difficult to pack all of Mary’s background into a letter. Her 25+ year career has spanned executive jobs in corporate America, major Catholic enterprises, and small nonprofits that help people in need.  And now she, too, has come home to Julia’s.  Together, through your support of Julia’s, you continue to do God’s work in Denver.  

What will 2021 bring?  You and I cannot answer that with certainty, but you know what it can bring.

With your support, 2021 can see Julia’s grow to serve even more women.  Our sights are on expansion, growing not only in the number of women Julia’s can serve, but also in providing them with even more training opportunities, even more vocational and spiritual guidance, and hopefully even more room in which to live and grow.

Will you join us by raising even more women out of homelessness with a gift today?

Just use the enclosed reply form and return envelope…you have our thanks!

In short, 2021 can bring what you and I would love to see every day:  women rising out of homelessness, thriving, in a safe home, with dignified work, and with the hope in their hearts that can only come through knowing the love of their Savior, Our Lord Jesus Christ.

On behalf of all of God’s beautiful daughters whom you allow Julia’s to serve, thank you. Please know of my profound gratitude for your support of the Julia Greeley Home. Most importantly, please keep all the women of Julia’s, past, present, and future, in your prayers.

Be assured that, especially during this upcoming Christmas season, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph will be watching over all of us.

You are in my prayers,

Father Regis Scanlon, O.F.M. Cap.

P.S.: What you’ve accomplished through helping these women is amazing.  Please know of our appreciation, and of theirs, too!  I ask that you prayerfully consider a gift to these brave women and provide them a new year of hope!