Our Patron, Julia Greeley, Remembered
The 101st anniversary of Julia Greeley’s death was celebrated June 7 with special honors at Denver’s Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception.
Born into slavery, and suffering poverty and physical pain all her life, the life of Julia Greeley, who died in 1918, was held up during the evening Mass as an example for everyone to turn to, in a world overrun with violence and racial tensions.
Mass goers prayed that Julia, whose candidacy for sainthood began in 2016, would be declared a saint soon, “so she can be our intercessor in these most troubled times.”
As our patron and namesake at the Julia Greeley Home, we recognize Julia as a role model for all women, and especially as an inspiration to our residents who also have faced poverty, abuse and hardship. Like Julia, their goal is to become independent women.
Danny, shown here with her beautifully crafted art boxes, uses her creativity to help move beyond physical pain of lupus, which resulted in the loss of her home. “Instead of moping around I use art as my coping mechanism,” she says. “I like to see things take shape and come alive.” Offered the peace and spiritual support of Julia Greeley Home, she concentrated on recovering her tranquility and has moved on toward her goal of independent living.
Kendra, a former athlete and gymnastics coach, is rebuilding her life after a “chaotic” period when she was living in her car and life was “scary and disconnected.” At the Julia Greeley Home she found peace and time for self-reflection. In our stable living environment she has gained perspective on the events that sent her into homelessness.