Suzanne Aubert, the founder
of the Sisters of Compassion New Zealand's home grown order of sisters,
has been declared "venerable", a milestone on the path to sainthood in
the Catholic Church.
The announcement was made from Rome by Pope Francis.
If the Cause for Sainthood is successful, she will be New Zealand's first saint, says Cardinal John Dew
"She was a remarkable woman who
devoted her life to helping others. She was a pioneer of New Zealand's
health and welfare system and a friend to Maori throughout her life. Her
tireless compassion and practical brand of Christianity made a huge
impact on New Zealand society."
Sister Suzanne came to New
Zealand from France in 1860 and spent most of her life here, fully
identifying with her adopted country.
"Suzanne Aubert was ahead of her
time, promoting the rights of women and Maori in the nineteenth
century," said Cardinal Dew. "Her care for infants, young children,
their mothers and families, and her practical concern for the incurably
sick and unemployed was legendary."
Being declared venerable is a
major step towards sainthood in the Catholic Church, says Maurice
Carmody, the promoter of her canonisation cause.
"The
next stage involves the recognition of a miracle attributed to Suzanne,
such as recovery from a terminal illness as a result of prayer. She can
then be declared 'Blessed' by the Pope. A second miracle and proof
that she is a model for the universal church will enable her to be
canonised as a saint," Dr Carmody said.
Sister Margaret Anne,
congregational leader for the Sisters of Compassion, says the news from
Rome is very exciting for the Sisters of Compassion and for all of New
Zealand.
She died in 1926, at the age of 91.
Sister Suzanne was a woman of
many talents. She had an in-depth knowledge of Maori herbal remedies
which she combined with her medical training to develop 'Mother Aubert'
herbal medicines. These were hugely popular throughout New Zealand.
She was also expert in Maori
language and tikanga, and developed a Maori-English dictionary which
became a reference text for decades.
Her legacy lives on in the work
of the Sisters of Compassion.
The sisters are still engaged in social work, pastoral care, prison and hospital chaplaincies, education, working with disadvantaged migrant communities, and care of the sick and the elderly.
The sisters are still engaged in social work, pastoral care, prison and hospital chaplaincies, education, working with disadvantaged migrant communities, and care of the sick and the elderly.
They run the Soup Kitchen in
Tory Street, Wellington and a dementia care unit in Upper Hutt and a
housing support programme in Lower Hutt.