--- title: New Picture Book Introduces Saint-to-Be description: "Barb Szyszkiewicz reviews 'Julia Greeley: Secret Angel to the Poor' by Maura Roan McKeegan." image: https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/20221018%20BSzyszkiewicz%201.png --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/new-picture-book-introduces-saint-to-be#) [BOOKS](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/tag/books) # New Picture Book Introduces Saint-to-Be Oct 18, 2022 8:30:00 AM  |  by [Barb Szyszkiewicz](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/barb-szyszkiewicz-ofs) ![featured image](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/20221018%20BSzyszkiewicz%201.png) *Barb Szyszkiewicz reviews* Julia Greeley: Secret Angel to the Poor *by Maura Roan McKeegan.* --- Maura Roan McKeegan's new picture book, *[Julia Greeley: Secret Angel to the Poor](https://amzn.to/3VmSFeL),* brings together events from the life of Servant of God Julia Greeley into a sweet and inspiring story that takes place over a couple of days.   ![Julia Greeley Secret Angel to the Poor](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Julia%20Greeley%20Secret%20Angel%20to%20the%20Poor.jpg?width=1143&name=Julia%20Greeley%20Secret%20Angel%20to%20the%20Poor.jpg)   In the story, illustrated with beautiful watercolors by Gina Capaldi, we meet Julia Greeley, an elderly woman who pulled a red wagon around town, collecting goods she found (and repaired herself) or begged for and delivering them secretly to people who needed them. We learn a bit of Julia's back story from her parish priest, who finds himself needing to set a couple of gossipy women straight. Her pastor tells them that, even though she is poor and doesn't have a beautiful appearance, she is welcome to sit in the front pew or any pew she wants to. He informs them that Julia's eye injury was caused when she was a child living in slavery, and how she had been whipped by her slave owner. He also observes that he believes she is a saint. > She didn't look like any saint they had ever seen. But they didn't yet know the greatness of her love. (12)   As the story continues, the very women who had gossiped about Julia become the beneficiaries of her secret good works. Two full pages at the end of the book explain more about Julia's life and dedication to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. [*Julia Greeley: Secret Angel to the Poor*](https://amzn.to/3VmSFeL) will inspire children (and the adults who read this book with them) to look for those in their own neighborhoods who are in need, and find ways to help others without embarrassing them, just like Julia does in this story. If you'd like to learn more about Julia Greeley, visit [JuliaGreeley.org](https://juliagreeley.org/), home of the Julia Greeley Guild, which is working to advance her cause for sainthood.   ![null](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/20221018%20BSzyszkiewicz%20IG.png?width=1080&name=20221018%20BSzyszkiewicz%20IG.png) --- Copyright 2022 Barb Szyszkiewicz Images: Canva This article contains Amazon affiliate links, which provide a small compensation to the author of this piece when purchases are made through the links, at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting our Catholic Mom writers in this way.  ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fnew-picture-book-introduces-saint-to-be%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fnew-picture-book-introduces-saint-to-be%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fnew-picture-book-introduces-saint-to-be%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=New%20Picture%20Book%20Introduces%20Saint-to-Be) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fnew-picture-book-introduces-saint-to-be%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fnew-picture-book-introduces-saint-to-be%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Barb Szyszkiewicz](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/BSzyszkiewicz%202022.jpg) ### [Barb Szyszkiewicz](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/barb-szyszkiewicz-ofs) Barb Szyszkiewicz, senior editor at [CatholicMom.com](http://catholicmom.com), is a wife, mom of 3 young adults, and a Secular Franciscan. Barb enjoys writing, cooking, and reading, and is a music minister at her parish. Find her blog at [FranciscanMom](http://franciscanmom.com) and her family’s favorite recipes with nutrition information at [Cook and Count](http://cookandcount.wordpress.com). Barb is the author of *[The Handy Little Guide to Prayer](https://amzn.to/2LQB2oL)* and * [The Handy Little Guide to the Liturgy of the Hours](https://amzn.to/3wbDB8k)*, available from Our Sunday Visitor. ## Related Blog Articles [ Book Notes: "Charlotte's Honor" by Ellen Gable Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2018/10/30/book-notes-charlottes-honor-by-ellen-gable/) [ Book Notes: 'Brilliant!' Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/book-notes-brilliant) [ Meatless Friday: Hash-Brown Breakfast Casserole Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/meatless-friday-hash-brown-breakfast-casserole) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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