Society Marks 180th Anniversary

The Society of the Holy Child Jesus marks its 180th anniversary this month through the observance of two feast days.

The Society commemorates its history on October 13 and October 15. On October 13, the feast of St. Edward, founder Cornelia Connelly and three other women traveled to Derby, England. This date marked exactly six years after her husband, Pierce, announced his decision to become a Catholic priest. Two days later, on October 15, the feast of St. Teresa of Avila, Connelly and the three postulants assisted at their first Mass in a small, simply furnished room, an event the Society observes as its formal founding.