The Daughters of Mary and Joseph came to England from Belgium in 1869, setting up a residence in Croydon and establishing Coloma School which is still flourishing today. In 1882 a community and school opened in Scarborough. Other schools followed, among them St. Anne’s College, Sanderstead, Coalville, Normanton Rise Preparatory School, Merrow Grange, Forest Hill.
The Sisters also taught in other schools including Regina Coeli, St. Mary’s, West Croydon, St. John Rigby, and St. Paul’s, and St. John’s in Portsmouth and contributed to the wider educational community through Coloma College of Education (For teacher training) at West Wickham.
Today in England, the Daughters of Mary and Joseph are involved in various ministries including pastoral ministry in parishes, schools and hospitals, retreat ministry and medical care. There are sisters working in Addiscombe, New Addington, West Wickham, Thornton Heath, Sydenham, Herne Bay, Jarrow, Bodmin and St Columb.
The Sisters run the Emmaus Retreat Centre in West Wickham, Kent and are trustees of Coloma Convent Girls School. They are also responsible for the pastoral care at Coloma Court Care Home in West Wickham.
“Whatever we do and wherever we are, we are concerned for those seeking spiritual meaning and values in their lives and we are called to make room in our hearts for each person, especially those of whom society says, ‘there is no place for you here”
The Sisters’ own web site is at www.daughtersofmaryandjoseph.org.
