Julia Greeley, a former slave, moved to Denver in 1874 as a free servant in the household of Colorado Territorial Governor William Gilpin, his wife and their four children. Perhaps influenced by Mrs. Gilpin's Catholic faith, Julia was baptized at Sacred Heart Church in 1880 and became a daily communicant.
When Julia's position with the Gilpin family ended, she moved near Sacred Heart Church and began a life of service and charity. She received an inheritance from Mrs. Gilpin that would have allowed her to live a very comfortable life, but Julia used her money to help the needy, often delivering food and clothing at night so as not to embarrass anyone.
Julia had a special devotion to the Sacred Heart and a particular concern for Denver's firemen, walking to each of the firehouses in the city to deliver leaflets and badges. Her forthright and cheerful manner compelled the men to listen and many firemen had Sacred Heart badges sewn into their helmets.
Julia died on her way to Mass at Sacred Heart Church on June 7, 1918, the feast of the Sacred Heart. She lay in state at the church where both rich and poor came to pay their respects. She left us a great legacy of quiet charity, faith and devotion.
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