By Grace Crawford, senior, Mercy High School, Burlingame, California
Julia Greeley was born into slavery at some point between 1833 and 1848 in Missouri.
This caused her to experience many hardships during her young years. One of the traumatic events that happened to her was when her owner whipped her across the eye, leaving a scar on the side of her face and permanently disfiguring her. These events, however, did not define her life. Instead, she lived a life of great faith, perseverance and generosity while becoming the embodiment of love and charity. Gaining her freedom from slavery in 1865, Greeley moved to Denver, Colorado, where in 1880 she converted to Catholicism and dedicated herself to serving the poor.
What truly inspires me most about Julia Greeley is that, amidst her poverty and struggles, she was dedicating herself to serving others. She gave all she could, even when she had very little. She would pull a red wagon full of food and clothes through Denver, giving them out to poor families. Often, she did this at night so as not to embarrass the families that needed help. That kind of humility in secretly sharing goods speaks volumes about love for her neighbors. Julia was not looking for any kind of recognition or reward but was solely focused on serving others. Her selfless approach to charity makes me admire her greatly, and it is something I want to emulate in my own life.
Julia Greeley’s story also continues to remind people that Black Catholics’ contribution must be recognized, especially since they experienced racism and discrimination. She lived in a time when both the Church and society treated African Americans as second-class citizens, but she never let that affect her faith. Julia had an intense belief in God’s love which persisted even when facing such inequality. She serves as an incredible example of resilience in the face of adversity, making her a particularly powerful figure. Her example reminds us that the Church’s message of equality and justice extends to everyone, regardless of race or background.
The life of Julia Greeley is a great lesson for future generations of Catholics in how to live the Gospel by serving others. She was poor and had very little, yet she did so much good for her community just by being kind and compassionate to others. She was the definition of generosity and thoughtfulness, shown specifically when she would make her deliveries at night. It is important to remember that she did it all from a place of deep faith that sustained her through adverse treatment and gave her strength to continue. In today’s world, where social and economic divides are widening, Julia Greeley’s life serves to show us that even the smallest acts of charity can make a real difference.