Heritage New Zealand has recognised the chapel and resting place of the Venerable Suzanne Aubert, who could become New Zealand’s first saint, as a place of historical significance. Source: CathNews NZ.
Suzanne Aubert (1835-1926) was a French religious sister who started a home for orphans and the under-privileged in Jerusalem, New Zealand, on the Whanganui River in 1885. She founded a religious order, the Daughters of Our Lady of Compassion in 1892, and later started two hospitals in Wellington. The process for her beatification commenced in 2010.
The decision of the Heritage New Zealand Board recognises that the chapel and resting place at Our Lady’s Home of Compassion in Island Bay in Wellington hold sufficient significance to be entered onto the New Zealand Heritage List as a Category 1 Historic Place.
In its decision, Heritage New Zealand considered a range of criteria, evaluating the architectural, social, spiritual, aesthetic and historical significance of the site.
“The Chapel of Our Lady of Compassion and the Resting Place of Meri Hōhepa Suzanne Aubert have outstanding historical and spiritual significance for their direct association with the Catholic nun, nurse and social worker Meri Hōhepa Suzanne Aubert, who founded the Daughters of Our Lady of Compassion (Sisters of Compassion),” it reads.
Heritage New Zealand also recognised the further historical significance of the chapel through its association with Ross Brown, award-winning architect of the Structon Group, and John Drawbridge, an artist of national standing.
Opened in 1990, the design of the chapel is the result of collaboration between these two highly respected figures in their fields.
“The building has a unique form, and its interior is visually arresting. The result is a unique and extraordinary space which, with the addition of the resting place, has significant rarity value.”
The resting place, designed by Hugh Tennent of Tennent Brown Architect and featuring John Drawbridge’s Resurrection stained-glass window, opened in 2017.
Sr Margaret Anne Mills, congregational leader of the Sisters of Compassion, welcomed the decision.
“It recognises the importance of this place in the life Meri Hōhepa Suzanne Aubert and her wider contribution to New Zealand society,” she said.
“We want to acknowledge Historic Places Wellington, who made the initial nomination, and to thank Heritage New Zealand for this recognition.”
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Suzanne Aubert’s resting place given historic place status (CathNews NZ)
