Sister Joan joins the pastoral team at Stonyhurst

Sister Joan Breen, a retired Headmistress from the Convent of the Sisters of Mercy in Wanstead, East London, has joined the pastoral staff of St Mary's Hall, the preparatory school of Stonyhurst College.

Sister Joan has been in education for most of her vocation.  She taught in primary schools in East London before coming to Burnley, Lancashire, 14 years ago as Headmistress of St Joseph's Park Hill, a Catholic prep school founded in 1914 by the Sisters of Mercy.  Now in retirement, she has joined the pastoral staff of Stonyhurst, a Catholic boarding school in the Ribble Valley, Lancashire, and lives alongside the 68 boarders of St Mary's Hall.

'The Headmaster of Stonyhurst St Mary's Hall, Mr Larry Crouch, is a governor of St Joseph's and last year he asked me what I'd like to do in retirement' said Sister Joan. 'I replied that I'd like to work with children in a pastoral role, without the pressures of headship on my shoulders.  He smiled and said immediately that he might be able to help make that possible!'

Sister Joan's presence in the heart of community means that she is able to support both children and staff alike, with matters great and small. 'I'm very happy here, and to be using my years of experience to continue my ministry in this way,' she said.