As part of CJ/Loreto’s commitment to this year’s theme of Internationality, we were privileged to welcome Sr Imelda Poole CJ and Dr Mary McHugh into school on Tuesday 5 May 2026. Sr Imelda addressed more than 700 students throughout the day, sharing her mission from the past 20 years to bring about systemic change for the world’s most vulnerable.
Since 2005, Sr Imelda has worked tirelessly in Albania responding to the growing crisis of human trafficking. In 2012, she co-founded the Mary Ward Loreto Foundation, a pioneering NGO dedicated to tackling modern slavery through prevention, advocacy and survivor reintegration. Dr Mary McHugh is the Chair of Trustees for the UK branch of this charity. Sr Imelda’s talk was deeply inspiring, reminding us that each of us can play a part. Like the intertwined roots of trees in a forest, our individual actions can support collective efforts to uphold hope and dignity for all. Our Year 12 student delegates, alongside Ms Zyba, are now more motivated than ever to support Sr Imelda’s vital work when they travel to Albania this summer. To learn more and support this important cause, please visit the Mary Ward Loreto Foundation: www.marywardloreto.org
C.Wicks
Later in the week I was with Charlotte Cummins CJ at the University Chaplaincy, Cambridge where Charlotte is one of the chaplains. Opposite you will see how it was advertised. The response to this was excellent. Jane Livesey CJ, the former General Leader, came for the session too. It was great to have such support. The session was extremely lively as you can imagine and the questions were coming swiftly throughout and well into the late evening, over spilling after compline into the Bar for round table conversation on the theme. Interestingly, for the first time, on the rolling adverts in big bold pictures in Stansted airport, from where I flew to Tirana the next day, was this invitation which the students in Cambridge were asking about – What can we do? And here was an invitation to respond in the airport! See you soon online! Imelda Poole CJ
