A program for women who have experienced homelessness

and want to rebuild their lives

September-October Newsletter 2022

Our residents want you to know:

Your generous help, and their resolve,

is putting the past behind them

"Keep having hope!" Residents recently shared reflections on experiencing homelessness. From left: Sue, Roxie, Pam and Pat.

Not long ago, Sue was pulling a blanket around her head as she braced for any sound of a stranger's approach. No, she says, sleeping in a deserted park is no picnic.

For most of Julia's residents, becoming "a homeless person" used to be unthinkable. They were loving daughters, like Sue; they worked as office managers, administrators, salon stylists, wives and mothers.

Then, something snapped the thread of their independence - whether it was financial collapse, a family breakup, emotional turmoil, or an eviction notice slapped on the door, or something else - they now see homelessness from "the other side."

"It hurts me to see homeless people now," says Pat, a widow who faced financial collapse and a severe rent hike that led to eviction. "I know now how hard it is to use up all your money for housing!" 

"I don't take anything for granted anymore," says Pam. "I care more for homeless people because I know how hard it is ... I never thought I'd get to that point, so I'm just glad to be here, at Julia's."

"Having once been homeless myself, I've learned that interacting with homeless people takes discernment," says "Sheila," who asks that her real name not be used. "There are people in genuine need and you can bless them with your help. Other people carry knives and drugs and are best to avoid. That takes discernment.

"For me," she says, "when I was homeless and living in shelters, one of the things I got when I came to the Julia Greeley Home was the gift of time. I needed time to figure out my next step. Since then the process has been continuous, of putting my dreams in motion. This was the right path, and I give God the glory!"

"Being homeless was catastrophic. I never dreamed it would happen to me." Rae (top right) returns often to Julia's to give hope and advice on becoming independent again. Listening to Rae is "Sheila," a current resident.

Donor Profile

A busy mom finds a sure-fire way to multiply prayers for her firefighter daughter

Does Agnes Penny have enough to do?

Most would say this Oklahoma mom has more than enough to do. Agnes is a wife (her husband Daniel, is a hospice chaplain); mother of ten kids (ages 6 to 22), and author of a book series published by the well-known Catholic publisher, Tan Books. Plus, she keeps a sharp eye on each of her children's needs, which is how she found us -- through the Julia Greeley Firefighters Prayer Union. a ministry of the Julia Greeley Home.

"My daughter Victoria always wanted to be a firefighter, and she became one last fall. When I saw the article on the Julia Greeley Firefighters Prayer Union in the National Catholic Register, I got so excited, and I wanted to enroll her."

Today, 20-year-old Victoria is among a growing number of firefighters prayed for every day and at a Mass celebrated on the 11th of every month. She works for the Seminole (OK) Fire Department and is in line to join the Oklahoma City Fire Department. While firefighters are universally admired, that's not why Victoria pursued the career -- she sees it as a prayer-filled cause to serve others. "It took a lot of determination," Agnes says, adding that her daughter didn't pursue firefighting to win accolades, "she really wants to help people."

As for Agnes, the author?

"I've been writing since I was a little kid, but I really started writing after my first child. I always wanted to have a big family, but wow, I was so sick during my pregnancies! That was hard. I had to sort out in my mind, what am I supposed to do with this?"

The answer she received harmonized with her callings as mother and writer, and even deepened what it means to suffer through tough pregnancies.

Prayed for every day: (Top photo): Firefighter Victoria Penny (on the right) with her mom, Agnes. (Second photo): Victoria in her firefighting gear with her three youngest siblings, Regina, Immacula and Ambrose.

(Below) The Penny clan

In her suffering, Agnes realized that in bringing a child into the world, "Mothers give up their bodies the way Christ gave up His body for us." That insight led to her fruitful writing career:

"A Spiritual Companion" series

by Agnes M. Penny

available at Tanbooks.com and Amazon.com:

"Your Labor of Love: A Spiritual Companion for Expectant Mothers";

"Your School of Love" A Spiritual Companion for Homeschooling Mothers"; "Your Vocation of Love: A Spiritual Companion for Catholic Mothers"

Busy yes, but Agnes's motherly vigilance never flags. She recalls the night a tornado was coming through Victoria's town, and her daughter was in the heart of it, making safety knocks on people's doors. That's why prayers are deeply welcomed for Victoria and all firefighters: "I do worry about her, but I know God is with her."

A houseful of Pennys

Do you have a special firefighter,

like Victoria Penny,

you'd like us to pray for?

Here's how to enroll your beloved firefighter, crew, or fire station in the

Julia GreeleyFirefighter's Prayer Union. 

Julia Greeley loved firefighters ...

and so do we!

If you're in Denver, visit Julia's parish - it's furthering the legacy of supportive pastors

The torch is passed: 

In August, Father Eric Zegeer, D. Min, became pastor of Sacred Heart Church in Denver, where Julia was a member and daily Mass goer until her death in 1918. Father Eric is known as an eloquent preacher who loves to share the lives of saints with his congregation. As a parochial vicar at his former parish, Father Eric spoke of Julia Greeley from the pulpit. Now he's able to promote her ongoing cause for canonization, and share her story, from the very parish she called her own. 

In life, Julia was poor; today her parish is blessed by events honoring her, like this anniversary Mass led by Auxiliary Bishop Jorge Rodriguez.

"As long as I'm pastor here, Julia gets to keep her pew!" Julia's biggest defender was her pastor, Fr Edward Barry, SJ, who stood up to parishioners who demanded that Julia "sit farther in the back." 

What's your Julia IQ?

Taken from the biography of Julia Greeley, "In the Secret Service of the Sacred Heart" by Father Blaine Burkey, OFM Cap.

1. Sometimes smoked a corncob pipe
2. Taught herself to play the piano  
3. Probably took her name from Horace Greeley, a famous newspaper man
4. Coaxed wealthy girls to give up "last year's" party dresses to poor girls
5. Helped organize neighborhood and parish ice cream socials 
6. Testified in the famous divorce trial of Gov. Gilpin and his wife, mostly about being a servant in their house 
7. Was recalled with great fondness by two Denver judges. One, she called "Sonny" as he was growing up, the other was a pallbearer at her funeral
8. Known for her "winsome" smile and for singing as she worked
9. Poor herself, Julia paid the entire cost of a chapel organ for a nearby town
10. Drew 1,000 mourners to her funeral services, and is still only person - lay or religious - whose tomb is enshrined at the Cathedral Basilica in Denver, CO.

You are changing the lives of good women for the better, and they thank you!

Julia Greeley Home Inc

Mailing address: 3613 Wyandot Street

Denver, Colorado 80211

[email protected]

juliagreeleyhome.org