The general secretary of the bishops' conference has taken over as interim director of the Catholic Education Service of England and Wales, it was confirmed today. Fr Marcus Stock replaces Oona Stannard, who has taken an indefinite leave of absence "for personal reasons", a Church spokesman said. Fr Stock said today that his new role was temporary and that he would have “strategic oversight of, and responsibility for, the CESEW”. The CESEW, an agency of the bishops' conference, negotiates with the Government on behalf of the Catholic bishops. Its mission is to promote Catholic education.