The Christ Child Society of South Bend was founded on August 6, 1947, by Mrs. Jerome J. Crowley. After obtaining Bishop John F. Noll's permission for this new enterprise, Mrs. Crowley asked 15 friends to serve with her on the first Board of Directors. As a beginning project, these women decided to furnish clothing to needy babies. The first layette was presented to a baby born shortly after midnight on Christmas morning. It seemed the Christ Child smiled on this new organization!
Before long, calls were received asking for clothing for older children. The membership decided to add this project to their original proposal.
In summer, 1949, the South Bend chapter was incorporated and a constitution and by-laws were drawn up. In 1951, the official seal of the Christ Child Society of South Bend was designed by Mrs. Alice Schlesinger, who was inspired by the famous Della Robbia plaques. In December of the same year, the program was answering letters from needy children at Christmas, one of the oldest and best loved works of the Society throughout the country, was begun.
As both the numbers of children being helped and the membership grew, it became clear that the Society needed a home. In October, 1954, the organization accepted the use of seven rooms, rent-free, on East Jefferson Boulevard. After several interim locations, in 1973 the Society moved to the vacant Sacred Heart Church on West Thomas Street.. The Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend not only provided the use of the building but also authorized extensive remodeling and upgrading of the property.
In 2007, the Chapter's 60th Anniversary year, the Board of Directors began the search for a new location because the number of children and infants served annually had exceeded 4000. We had outgrown the aging Thomas Street building. The former Saint Patrick's Parish school on Scott Street was underutilized by the parish. An agreement was reached between Father Lenard Chrobot and the Society to occupy the building. In May of 2008, after extensive remodeling of seven classrooms and two offices, the Christ Child Society moved 3 blocks to its new home. The Clothing Center, is the very heart of the South Bend chapter, which is 1 of 41 chapters throughout the U.S. of the National Christ Child Society.
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The Christ Child Society was founded by Mary Virginia Merrick in Washington, D.C., in 1887. In her teens, Miss Merrick was injured in a fall. She was so seriously hurt that her life became that of a complete invalid. Unwilling to resign herself to a life of idleness, and despite her overwhelming handicap, Miss Merrick turned her thoughts to the poor children of Washington, especially babies.
In her desire to help these children and to honor the Christ Child, she called upon her friends. The young women met with Miss Merrick and began sewing layettes, which were given to the mothers of needy infants. The interest and the need grew, and eventually Miss Merrick formalized this organization, founding the Christ Child Society.
Although all chapters today help needy children, in accordance with Miss Merrick’s wish, Christ Child societies adapt themselves to the specific needs of the communities they serve. Thus, each of the 38 chapters is individualized in both project and services.
As a result of the good Miss Merrick had effected and because she was the guiding light for similar organizations throughout the United States, many honors were bestowed upon this frail woman. Some of the most noteworthy were: the Laetare Medal, awarded by the University of Notre Dame in recognition of her outstanding service to the children; the Siena Medal, presented annually to the outstanding Catholic woman in the United States; and the Papal Cross, awarded by the Vatican to persons who have uniquely served their God and their country. On April 2, 2003 Pope John Paul II declared Mary Virginia Merrick a " Servant of God," the first official step towards canonization.
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