The Sisters of the Holy Faith is a Roman Catholic  religious congregation, originally for the care of Catholic orphans. It now works broadly in the areas of education and faith development. It was founded at Dublin, in 1857, by Margaret Aylward, under the direction of Rev. John Gowan, C.M.

The foundress was called a confessor of the Faith by Pope Pius IX

Pope Pius IX

Blessed Pope Pius IX , born Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti, was the longest-reigning elected Pope in the history of the Catholic Church, serving from 16 June 1846 until his death, a period of nearly 32 years. During his pontificate, he convened the First Vatican Council in 1869, which decreed papal...

, because of the imprisonment of six months she endured. She was convicted of contempt of court

Contempt of court

Contempt of court is a court order which, in the context of a court trial or hearing, declares a person or organization to have disobeyed or been disrespectful of the court's authority...

, but acquitted of a charge of kidnapping

Kidnapping

In criminal law, kidnapping is the taking away or transportation of a person against that person's will, usually to hold the person in false imprisonment, a confinement without legal authority...

, after having refused to produce and return an abandoned child to its mother.

The congregation is especially active in the Archdiocese of Dublin, the residence of the superior general being at Glasnevin

Glasnevin

Glasnevin is a largely residential neighbourhood of Dublin, Ireland.-Geography:A mainly residential neighbourhood, it is located on the Northside of the city of Dublin . It was originally established on the northern bank of the River Tolka...

, where the sisters conducted a boarding-school for young ladies.

The original foundation was St. Brigid's Orphanage, Dublin.