Venerable Cornelia Peacock Connelly was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1809. Both of her parents died before she was 15 years old, so she spent many of her formative years living with her older sister Isabelle and her husband. While living with them, she met Pierce Connelly, an Episcopal cleric and joined the Episcopal church. Pierce and Cornelia were married in 1831 when she was 22 years old. They moved to the American South, had five children, and both converted to Catholicism. It’s important to note here that, during this time, they practiced slavery as Pierce was gifted slaves by friends of theirs upon the birth of their first child. They later sold or transferred ownership of those enslaved peoples and ceased the practice.
 
Upon their conversation, Cornelia’s husband Pierce dreamed of continuing his Episcopal priesthood as a Catholic priest. Unlike his previous appointment in the Episcopal church, however, his status as a married man prevented him from the pursuit of the continuation of his priestly vocation now that they were Catholic. To circumvent these restrictions, Pierce came up with an unorthodox plan while Cornelia was pregnant with their fifth child. He thought that if both he and Cornelia would agree to officially separate and then vow to live celibate lives, it was possible that Rome might allow for his ordination. Although devastated by this idea due to her love for her husband and her family, Cornelia reluctantly but faithfully agreed to support him.
 
Years later, in 1844, their plan was accepted by Rome and her husband was given permission to become a Catholic priest. This permission was conditional, however, upon Cornelia also taking vows of chastity as a religious sister. She agreed and they legally separated. He entered into ministry as a priest and she took residence with her young children with the sisters of the Society of the Sacred Heart, intending to enter the congregation once her children were old enough.
 
Eventually Cornelia decided not to join the Society of the Sacred Heart, but instead to found a brand new congregation — The Society of the Holy Child Jesus. The pope at the time, Pope Gregory, invited her to begin this congregation in England, where he saw a need for local Catholic schools. She eventually landed in the town of St. Leonards-on-Sea  in East Sussex where she would remain for the rest of her life while her congregation flourished. Cornelia and her sisters were pioneers of Catholic education in England, founding many schools and educating countless young women.
 
During this time, however, Cornelia’s relationship with Pierce would grow not only strained, but downright hostile. Once in England, Bishop Wiseman, her patron, did not think it wise for Pierce to visit her. Before the move to England, he had regularly visited with her and their children. Due to the new restriction on visitation, Pierce would go on to retaliate by removing their children from her care, banning them from communicating with her, and placing them in private boarding schools. He even prevented them from reading any of the letters she attempted to send to them.
 
As time went on, Pierce ended up leaving the Catholic priesthood and returning to the Episcopal faith. Following this decision, he petitioned Cornelia to leave the congregation she founded and all of her ministry work and return as his wife. When she refused, he actually SUED HER for loss of consortium but ultimately gave up when she appealed the original court ruling in his favor. Despite this incredible emotional burden, Cornelia continued to lead a thriving congregation and educate children and adults all over England.
 
She is remembered as a woman of her word who would stand her ground and defend those in need, including herself. She led her ministries with the joy of the Holy Spirit, enjoyed dancing, and eventually reunited with most of her children. She died in England in 1870 and was declared Venerable on June 13, 1992. The Sisters of the Holy Child continue her apostolic ministry of spiritual mercy in 14 countries around the world.