WelCom June/July 2024
With the birthday of Meri Hōhepa Suzanne Aubert on 19 June, the Sisters of Compassion have launched an appeal to honour her enduring legacy.
Meri Hōhepa Suzanne Aubert was born in France 188 years ago. As a young woman, she heard a call to mission and journeyed with faith and courage to New Zealand. Her life was characterised by a profound trust and reliance on God and an unwavering commitment to helping others.
Her ministry evolved to meet the needs of the time – caring for orphans, protecting and advocating for unwed mothers, providing nursing to those in need, establishing children’s homes and hospitals and looking after the elderly and disabled. She worked with empathy to offer prayerful and practical care for the most vulnerable.
Many of the social challenges Meri Hōhepa Suzanne Aubert confronted persist in today’s Aotearoa New Zealand. The mission of the Sisters of Compassion to serve the marginalised and disadvantaged remains vital.
The work of compassion continues through the ministries of the Compassion Soup Kitchen, Compassion Housing, and Our Lady’s Home of Compassion at Island Bay. The Sisters and the Compassion whānau are committed to welcoming all who come and to supporting those facing hardship, including homelessness, hunger, displacement, and discrimination.
The Compassion Soup Kitchen provides a place of belonging and around 50,000 hot meals a year to guests in need. Compassion Housing provides over 200 homes in Upper Hutt and Horowhenua, together with wrap-around support for residents who would otherwise struggle to find a stable, secure and affordable place to live. Our Lady’s Home of Compassion in Island Bay offers a place of manaakitanga, peace and prayer. Space is available for those seeking rest, respite and retreat, including short-term accommodation for refugee families resettling in New Zealand.
Through this appeal, the Sisters remember the birth and extraordinary life of their founder, Meri Hōhepa Suzanne Aubert, and invite the community to join in supporting the ongoing work in communities.
The Sisters are grateful to all who serve alongside and offer their support, including the time and dedication of volunteers, the generosity of those who give financially, and the commitment and care of those who hold the work in prayer.
Please support the Sisters of Compassion Appeal, through prayer, service or a financial gift. Donations can be made at compassion.org.nz