Cornelia Connelly

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Cornelia Connelly (1809 - April 18, 1879) was an American-born founder of a religious order. She was born in Philadelphia in 1809, began her conversion to Roman Catholicism in the southern US, and eventually founded the Society of the Holy Child Jesus in England. In 1846, she founded the first of many Holy Child schools.

Born Cornelia Peacock, after both her parent's deaths she came to live with her older sister and her sister's husband. She married Pierce Connelly, an Episcopal priest,despite her family's protests, in December 1831, and the two moved to Natchez, Mississippi, where Pierce had accepted the rectorship of the Holy Trinity Episcopal church. During this time their family grew, and experienced tragedy; one day Cornelia's son was playing with his dog near the wash when the dog accidently pudhed him into the boiling water. He died of severe burns in Cornelia's arms within the day.

Within years, the couple converted to Catholicism,and despite their young family - the couple eventually had five children - Cornelia agreed to move to Rome. Soon afterward Rev. Connelly elected to enter the Roman Catholic priesthood, where in July 1845 Pierce was ordained. After considerable prayer and soul-searching, Cornelia too found a calling to serve God, she rose in influence and power while her husband went into training in Rome. With higher ordained priest's help she aplied to create a new religious education order and relocated to England where she founded the Society of the Holy Child Jesus religious order. The order, whose constitution is based on that of the Jesuits, is devoted to teaching young women, and operates schools primarily in the US.

Sister Cornelia was further challenged when her former husband renounced the priesthood and came to England to regain custody of their two daughters. He also tried to force her to return to their marriage, suing in court for refusal of his marriage rights, although the courts originally awarded him, eventually, after a retrial, the courts rejected his claim. She died on 18 April 1879, at St Leonards-on-Sea, Sussex, where she had established a school.

Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child, founded by Cornelia Connelly, has produced many great students due to her beliefs. Cornelia Connelly High School in Anaheim is one of her all girls schools in the U.S.

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