The Society of the Holy Child Jesus was founded in England in 1846 by Cornelia Connelly, a native of Philadelphia. This talk tells the story of their ministry, starting in 1862, when the sisters, attuned to the teachings of the “One, Apostolic, Holy, Roman Catholic Church,” came from England to the United States, where they aimed to meet “the wants of the day, through the means of spiritual mercy,” with an emphasis on education.  

The talk will be presented by Emily Siegel, the Assistant Archivist of the Society of the Holy Child Jesus, and Sister Roseanne McDougall, SHCJ, Archivist for the American Province of the Society and author of Cornelia Connelly’s Innovations in Female Education, 1846-1864.  

The event is free and open to the public, with the option for either in-person or online attendance.  Please review the following guidelines and register via the appropriate link.

For In-Person Attendance:

1. In-person attendance is limited to 25 individuals to avoid crowding. Registration for in-person attendance will close once the limit has been reached.
2. Guests are required to wear masks while inside in the Society house (as per City of Philadelphia guidelines).
3. Weather permitting, a light reception will be held in the ACHS garden after the talk.

Register for In-Person attendance

For Online Attendance:

1. The event will be livestreamed on Zoom as a webinar.
2. Registrants will be provided with a link a day or two prior to the lecture.

Register for Online attendance