Plans were already underway to build a school for the growing numbers of children in the parish and when the building was opened the following year it incorporated a convent dedicated to Saint Joseph.  The nuns moved into the convent and took responsibility for teaching the pupils under the direction of their new superior Mother Imelda.

Few written records exist about the order and its work.  Following the notion "God's work is done in silence" they made few records of their outstanding achievements and hence what little we do is know is mostly gleaned from other sources.

We do know that a Sister Emerentia worked for over fifty years in the convent and was so deeply affected by the riots of 1862 that she was able to recount the main events in a letter she wrote many years later.

We know that when they attended Mass at Saint Austin's church they occupied a small room above the altar and would hear and observe the ceremony from there.  This allowed them to attend Mass while maintaining some degree of seperation from the outside world represented by the other parishioners.
 

It is clear that the good work undertaken by the nuns was held in high regard by the parishioners.  Over 200 attended the funeral of Sister Loretto in 1881.  Similar scenes were witnessed in 1893 at the death of Sister Mary Zeta and in 1908 when Sister Gertrude passed away.

The last Mother Superior of Saint Joseph's convent was Mother Maria Pia who worked in Wakefield between 1918 and 1957 and continues to be held dear within the memories of many current parishioners whom she taught.  Mother Maria gave up her role as headmistress in 1957 and the order announced that they could no longer cope with the mounting administrative tasks and problems associated with the school.  Before she left Mother Maria had the following message for parents of the parish: