Servant of God Julia Greeley

Died 1918

Julia Greeley was born into slavery in Hannibal, Missouri, sometime between 1833 and 1848.

Freed by Missouri’s Emancipation Act in 1865, Julia subsequently made a living by serving white families in Missouri, Colorado, Wyoming, and New Mexico. Julia spent everything she did not need for herself to assist poor families in her neighborhood. When her resources were inadequate, she begged for food, fuel, and clothing for the needy. One writer later called her a “one-person St. Vincent de Paul Society.” To avoid embarrassing the people she helped, Julia did most of her charitable work at night through dark alleys. Julia entered the Catholic Church at Sacred Heart Parish in Denver in 1880. The Jesuits who ran the parish considered her the most enthusiastic promoter of devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus they had ever seen. Julia also had a rich devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and the Blessed Virgin and continued her prayers while working. She joined the Secular Franciscan Order in 1901 and was active in it till her death in 1918. She received the title of Servant of God in August of 2016, and her cause for canonization is currently under consideration. Her remains are located in the Cathedral in Denver, where people can pray and ask for her intercession.

·      What does a plant need to grow? What do you need to grow in faith?

·      Have you ever planted seeds? What happened?

·      Retell this parable in your words. Take turns and be creative.

·      Servant of God Julia Greeley did most of her charitable work at night to avoid embarrassing those whom she helped. Why is it important to be sensitive to the feelings of others?

Visit a Local Pilgrimage Site or Historic Church

Your local diocese or archdiocese likely has a rich history and many interesting places to visit. Consider getting some families together to visit a local pilgrimage site or historic church in your area. If you live in the Archdiocese of Detroit, here are some places to consider:

·      Solanus Casey Center, Detroit

·      Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament, Detroit

·      National Basilica Shrine of the Little Flower, Royal Oak

·      Ste. Anne, Detroit

·      Sweetest Heart of Mary, Detroit

·      St. Joseph, Detroit

·      Old St. Mary's, Detroit

·      St. Aloysius, Detroit

Lemon Bars

Use the fruit that grew from a lemon seed to make this delicious dessert!

For Base

2 cups sifted flour

½ cup powdered sugar

1 cup butter, softened

For Top

4 large beaten eggs

2 cups white sugar

½ cup lemon juice

¼ cup flour

½ tsp baking powder

lemon rind from entire lemon

Preheat oven to 350 F. Line 9x13 pan with aluminum foil (enough to have some cover over the long edges). Spray the aluminum foil.  Set aside. For the base, mix the butter into the flour and powdered sugar. Mix with hands until it clings together. Press into the foiled pan. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until lightly browned. While the base is baking, beat eggs for 4 to 5 minutes for the filling. Then, add the sugar, lemon juice, and lemon rind, and beat just until mixed (about 30 seconds to 1 minute). Sift together flour and baking powder. Stir into egg mixture. Pour over baked crust. (Pour it directly on the hot crust that comes out of the oven.)  Bake at 350 F for 25 minutes. Cool. (Tip: Once cooled, cover and put in the refrigerator. Once cold, pull the pan out of the refrigerator. Pull the foil (which is stuck to the bars) out of the pan. Pull the foil away from the sides of the bars. Use a pizza cutter to cut the bars easily. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and enjoy!

Jesus, I Trust in You

Pray these words together:

Jesus, I Trust in You,

Jesus, I Trust in You,

Jesus, I Trust in You. Amen.

The sanctuary lamp is a red light near the tabernacle. It signifies the presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, which is reserved in the tabernacle. Find the sanctuary lamp in your church.

Plant some seeds of faith by sharing your experience of 52 Sundays with another family.

All seeds need moisture, oxygen, and the right temperature to germinate, or grow. Until they have these conditions, seeds remain dormant and do nothing.