This week we have been looking at Suzanne Aubert here is her story.
Suzanne Aubert was born on the 19th of June 1835 in Lyon, France.
When Suzanne was legally allowed to come to New Zealand at the age of 25.
When Suzanne was on her ship to New Zealand she learnt how to speak, read and write Māori.
After working intially at a boarding school for Māori girls, Suzanne Aubert left Auckland to work at the Marist Māori mission staion at Meanee in Hawkes Bay with the third order of Mary.
Suzanne became well known in nthe area after ministring to Māori and Pakeha, Catholic and non- Catholic with out compromising her own beliefs.
Tolerance and freindships became stratergies for her mission.
In 1874 Suzanne was pinning her hopes for revival of the Māori mission on the new Bishop of Wellington, Bishop Redwood, who was to become her life long supporter.
On Christmas day 1885, Bishop Redwood blessed St Josephs church. When it burned down three years later, Suzanne set off on a collecting tour of New Zealand, returning in 1893 with $1000 enough to buy a new church and convent.
During her tour, Suzanne had become acutely aware of the challenges faced by poor and unmarried mothers and there babies. She took 74 of there babies and children into their care but Hiruhārama was too isolated from medical services. So Suzanne set her sights on Wellington, arriving unannounced in the city in in 1899 with two sisters.
The sisters immediatly started work with Wellington suffering and destitute planning a much needed home.
They set up a soup kitch and creche for children and working parents.
Land was bought in Island Bay and in 1907, the Our Lady's Home of Compassion was opened.
Suzanne was travelling to Rome at the age of 78 to present her case to the Pope.
More then 4 years later, Pope Benedict XV granted the Decree of Praise to the Daughters of Our Lady of Compassion.
In early 1920 a frail but triumphant Suzanne returned home to the Bay of Islands.
On October 1st at the age of 91 Suzanne Aubert dies, in the presence of the Sisters.
As the word spread of her death, the crowd gathered to pay their respect.
Wellington's streets and roofs were filled with people silently watching the hearse pass by.
She is now buried in the Karori Cemetry.
What do you know about Suzanne Aubert?
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