National Centennial Mass for Venerable Meri Hohepa Suzanne Aubert at St Mary of the Angels

Thank you to everyone who attended the National Centennial Mass for Venerable Meri Hōhepa Suzanne Aubert at St Mary of the Angels in Wellington.

The church was filled this past Sunday (4 October) for the Mass, at which were the Sisters of Compassion, nearly all New Zealand’s Catholic bishops, and Cardinal John.

The Mass reflected Meri Hōhepa’s deep commitment to working among Māori, and her work helping the vulnerable in our society. As Archbishop Paul said in delivering a homily, “Compassion is not an optional extra to Christian faith, but the very heart of the Gospel.”

Meri Hōhepa’s funeral at St Mary of the Angels Church on 5 October 1926 was reported to have been the largest ever held for a woman in Aotearoa New Zealand. A century later, she continues to have a deep impact on our communities.

Let’s pray we can follow Meri Hōhepa’s example in taking care of each other and helping those in need.