There are only a few weeks left until 2026, a special year that will mark two significant milestones in the history of the Sisters of Compassion: it will be 100 years since the passing of Meri Hōhepa Suzanne Aubert; and 125 years since the founding of the Compassion Soup Kitchen in Wellington.

These two anniversaries invite us to look back and reflect on the remarkable legacy of Meri Hōhepa Suzanne Aubert, a visionary woman of her time, deeply committed to social justice, who dedicated her life to caring for the most vulnerable: people experiencing homelessness, the sick, abandoned children, and marginalised communities.

Since her passing in 1926, Suzanne Aubert has left a legacy that is not only historical but profoundly relevant today. This legacy lives on in initiatives such as the Compassion Soup Kitchen, which will soon celebrate its 125th anniversary. Since 1901, the Soup Kitchen has been a place of welcome and dignity, offering hot meals, support, and community for our whānau experiencing difficult times.

In 2026, we celebrate not just a story, but a mission that remains alive through Compassion Housing, the Compassion Soup Kitchen, and the work of the Sisters of Compassion at Our Lady’s Home of Compassion.