Johanna
is a chaplain to the Traveller community and is an RE teacher formerly
serving the Roman Catholic Church in Austria and in Southern England.
Johanna says: 'I work as a volunteer chaplain to the Margaret Clitherow
Trust, serving those on the margins in the Travelling community. I
visit people in caravans, on sites, in social houses. I mainly meet members of the Travelling community through their desire for
sacramental care for their young people (Reconciliation, Eucharist and
Confirmation). We developed a sacramental preparation programme which
is delivered through a succession of short videos which parent and
child watch together and to which the candidates have to respond'. Johanna's ministry tries to address the problem where some parishes deny access to the sacraments, as some parish priests are at a loss on how to prepare children or young people, who are often not able to attend a lengthy parish preparation programme through a lack of literacy or through any prolonged absence for whatever reason. High church and catholic parishes are often grateful for a way forward in how to sacramentally minister to the Traveller Community.

Johanna's ministry is not area bound, mostly serving Traveller families in the South of England, but also in the Midlands.
Johanna also serves and accompanies those who struggle with life
or who want to explore their faith more. She has trained as a Spiritual
Director and spent a year at Anglia Ruskin University studying
chaplaincy. In secular work she is a lunchtime supervisor in the local
primary school and has been a parishioner in her local RC Church for
the last 25 years. Johanna says 'I am grateful for all the good things I learned in the RC Church. Originally I am from Austria; and was employed by the RC Diocese of Innsbruck, working in family accompaniment, organising youth clubs, liturgies, summer camps as well as an RE teacher in primary school.'

Johanna is married with three grown up children and is supported by her husband, who is a builder. She also practices Centering Prayer (Thomas Keating) daily and belongs to a small prayer group, a supervision group, and receives Spiritual Direction regularly.
Johanna was admiited to the minor orders and raised to acting
sub-deacon by Bishop Adrian early 2025 and was ordained to Deacon at the OCAC UK Synod in Edinburgh on 21st June,
2025, and ordained to the priesthood at OCAC UK Auxilairy Synod in Swindon 4th October 2025 again by Bishop Adrian.



