Main Stream: Holy Child

The charism of the SHCJ is to help others recognize that “God lives and acts in them and in our world, and to rejoice in God’s presence.” Rooted in the Gospel and the life of Venerable Cornelia Connelly, they express Christ’s love concretely through education, pastoral ministry, social justice, and compassionate service that respects the dignity of every person. Their spirituality emphasizes simplicity, humility, charity, and joy, enabling them to respond creatively to the needs of the Church and the world in each age.

The Society of the Holy Child Jesus was founded in 1846 in England by Venerable Cornelia Connelly, an American laywoman turned Catholic religious, who responded to the call to educate and form young people in faith and dignity. From its beginnings in England, the congregation expanded its mission internationally, arriving in West Africa in 1930 at the invitation of Bishop Joseph Shanahan, CSSp, and later establishing communities in Ghana, Nigeria, Chad, and Kenya. Over the years the Society has grown into three provinces (American, African, European) with sisters serving in multiple countries, continuing to carry forward their founder’s vision of meeting the wants of the age with faith, joy, and service.

shcjvocations@gmail.com —