It was a scene from the history books as hand-pulled wagons packed with essentials made their way down Larimer Street in Denver earlier this month. Dozens of students from Chesterton Academy of Our Lady of Victory hit the streets of RiNo to walk in the footsteps of Denver’s own “Angel of Charity,” Servant of God Julia Greeley.
Long before it was the millennial weekend hotspot it is today, RiNo was the home of Servant of God Julia Greeley. She was known to frequent Sacred Heart Parish, the parish in which she was baptized and where she rented a pew. She evangelized the firefighters in the neighborhood, and she walked the streets, most often at night, with a little red wagon to give alms to those in need.
Following her example, these high schoolers hit the streets in prayer and service.
“We always do a pilgrimage as a school community at Our Lady of Victory,” said Dianna Miller, one of the parent organizers of the Julia Greeley walking pilgrimage. “This year, we just thought it appropriate to follow in the footsteps of our hometown hero and pray that one day she’ll become a saint.”
As part of their Formation Friday program, Chesterton Academy of Our Lady of Victory aims to form its students holistically: spiritually as well as academically. On this particular Formation Friday, students had the chance to learn more about a “hometown hero.”
“One of the amazing things about Julia Greeley is that she’s a holy woman of Denver, Colorado,” Alex Crane, headmaster of the school, shared with the Denver Catholic.
“She was born a slave, but then after the Civil War, when she was given her freedom, she made her way to Denver, Colorado and she became Catholic here. Her story of sanctity and love of neighbor particularly is just really inspiring. And so having a local, soon-to-be hopefully saint is an incredible opportunity to participate in that we can pray for that canonization, pray for her intercession.”
Once the school community decided on the pilgrimage in honor of Servant of God Julia Greeley, parent organizers hit the ground running.
“Well, the first contact, of course, was Sacred Heart and Fr. Blaine Burkey,” said Mercy Gutierrez, one of the parent organizers. “As you know, he wrote the book on her. So he has a wealth of knowledge. Once he started talking, we started realizing all the places that were significant in her life: the firehouse, the chapel where she would pray, and then, of course, here, the Cathedral where her body is entombed.”
Beginning with Mass at Sacred Heart Parish, where Servant of God Julia Greeley herself worshipped, the students made their way to the old Loyola Chapel where Julia used to pray, as well as the neighborhood fire station, where she evangelized firefighters. After stopping to pray at each location, the students continued down to the Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, where Julia’s body was reposed for veneration.
“It’s really cool that she lived here,” shared Kearie Berry, a student at Chesterton Academy of Our Lady of Victory. “We’re out here walking in her footsteps and being able to partake in the witness that she had. It’s really cool to get to do that so many years later.”
“We’re here because these are the streets that Julia walked,” said Sophie Urban, another student who has a particular devotion to the Servant of God. “These are the places she went, and we want to see her life and try to do that ourselves by giving to those in need.”
As they walked in Julia’s footsteps, the students of Chesterton Academy of Our Lady of Victory got to know this “hometown hero,” Denver’s “Angel of Charity,” better. As they came to know her more deeply, they came to a deeper understanding of a fundamental truth proclaimed by the Church for millennia: sanctity is possible.
“Sanctity is possible and it’s close,” said Crane. “I think there’s a temptation that holiness, sainthood, is far away. It’s hard. And to some extent it is, but by the grace of God we can be empowered. All of us can be empowered in small ways. We have Julia Greeley’s example. She didn’t impact the world per se, but she impacted souls that Christ loves.”
Simply by loving the people around her, Servant of God Julia Greeley changed her neighborhood and the city of Denver for the better. Her example resounds in the local community and beyond, even finding its way to Europe, where an artist recently depicted her anew. This towering figure of holiness, though burdened under the weight of severe arthritis and physical pains, stands tall as a model of devoted service.
“Denver should be very proud,” Mary Leisring, president of the Julia Greeley Guild, told the Denver Catholic. “Here’s someone that walked the streets of Denver. And so we’re hoping and praying that it won’t be too long before she’s a saint.”