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Cornelia Connelly

Eventually, the Connelly's relocated to Grand Coteau, Louisiana where Pierce taught English in the Jesuit college and Cornelia taught art and music in a nearby academy for girls. During the course of their marriage, five children were born to Pierce and Cornelia; one died in infancy and another, tragically, at four years of age.

Both Cornelia and Pierce were deeply religious; both nurtured their lives through prayer and reflection. Cornelia, however, was not prepared when, in October 1840, Pierce confided to Cornelia his decision to resume his ministry by becoming a Roman Catholic priest. The consequences of his decision profoundly changed Cornelia's life and that of the children.

Pierce Connelly was ordained a Catholic priest in Rome, Italy in 1845, but Cornelia soon recognized that she did not belong in Rome. Subsequently, she responded favorably to a request from an English bishop to come to England and there she began a congregation of women.

This new congregation which became the Society of the Holy Child Jesus, provided education for the daughters of English Catholics and the growing number of Irish girls immigrating to England to work.

Under Cornelia's leadership, the Society of the Holy Child Jesus prospered. At the time of her death in 1879, the Society numbered over one hundred women and its work had expanded to America.