From the Archives: SHCJ Spring in Preston

12 March 2020 In February 1853, five Holy Child Sisters were sent to Preston to answer the call of the Jesuit fathers to take charge of their schools. The fathers had originally requested the SHCJ to come to Preston as the small community prepared to leave Derby in 1848. M. Emily Bowles related to John […]

Call and Response: A Sister’s Vocation Story

5 March, 2020 Holy Child Sister Philomena Grimley was recently asked to contribute an article on vocation for the Lancaster Diocesan News, The Voice. Below is what she submitted. If you look up the word VOCATION on Google, you find several explanations of the way it is used these days, for example to describe how […]

Step Into the Gap Volunteers Visit Cambodia

21 February, 2019 Step into the Gap, CAFOD’s gap year programme, is an opportunity to volunteer in the UK, gain experience, and develop leadership skills. The Society of the Holy Child Jesus has been a long time supporter of the programme. The Step Into the Gap volunteers recently visited their international placements. The group of […]

Society Contributes to Trees for Cities

29 January, 2020 In November 2019 the European Province gave a grant of £10,000 to Trees for Cities. Trees for Cities is the only UK charity helping to improve lives by creating greener spaces and healthier environments in urban areas. Its objectives are to help grow stronger communities, enhance urban spaces, and improve health and […]

‘Little Remembrances’ and Celebrations at Epiphany

From the European Archives January’s search into the archives follows the SHCJ’s observance of this important feast. Six of the Epiphany letters written by Cornelia herself survive in the European Province Archives, with the text of a seventh preserved in a notebook of copies made by Mother St John McMaster. The earliest letter does not […]

Advent Reflections

  4th Sunday of Advent The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness; the world and those who dwell in it. For he founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers. Psalm 24 Brother David Steindl-Rast talks about the overflow – which he describes as the ‘articulation’ or active response of thanksgiving, […]

From the Archives: SHCJ School Sports

14 October, 2019 For anyone who enjoyed the excitement of the Athletics World Championships last month or the amazing performance of 15-year-old tennis star Coco Gauff at Wimbledon over the summer, this particular delve into the European Province archives is on the subject of sport and features a selection of games played at SHCJ schools. […]

Cornelia’s Notebook and Writing Table

12 June, 2019 From the European Province Archives This notebook of ‘Dates and Events from 1846’ lists key moments in the SHCJ’s early history such as the arrival of five sisters at St Ignatius Convent, Preston in 1853, the landing of six members of the society in New York on 12th August 1862 followed by […]

Easter Season Reflections

Easter Season Reflections by friend to the Society Teresa Keogh. Pentecost   At school many of us learned the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit by rote and maybe, at that time, they made little sense. In today’s gospel reading we hear how the disciples received the Holy Spirit: Jesus ‘breathed on them.’ Breathing […]

Triduum Reflections 2019

Reflections by Philomena Grimley, SHCJ, Scripture References from Year C Liturgies. HOLY THURSDAY   We are all guests tonight, but mostly spectators at the enactment of the gospel. Foot washing. How do they do this in your church? Embarrassed volunteers? Each time just one (freshly washed) foot? Multiple laundered towels (for health and safety)? Yet […]