Re-interment of Suzanne Aubert's remains another step toward sainthood

SPECIAL CEREMONY: Cardinal John Dew, head of the Catholic Church in New Zealand, spreads incense around Venerable Suzanne Aubert's coffin.

The exhumation and re-interment of the Venerable Suzanne Aubert's mortal remains is another step in anticipation of her becoming a saint.

The Catholic nun known as Sister Mary Joseph who founded a home for orphans and the under-privileged at Jerusalem up the Whanganui River, was buried at the Home of Compassion property in Wellington, in January.

In a private ceremony, her casket was removed from a small underground vault placed in another, outer wooden casket and re-interred in a crypt in a chapel where it is expected that an increasing number of pilgrims and visitors will come.

The re-interment was described as a historic and solemn occasion, with the mass, hymns and blessings led by Cardinal John Dew, head of the Catholic Church in New Zealand, and the Sisters of Compassion.

At first light and in Maori tradition, Henare Walmsley of Wellington and the Maori representative on the committee for the canonization led the karakia at the grave site.

Among those in attendance was Father Maurice Carmody, the Roman Postulator - that is, the person who is responsible for presenting the life story of the Venerable Suzanne and her virtues for the judicial process toward sainthood required by the Vatican. Also there was kuia Christine Tapa from Ranana.

Father Carmody read a letter written by Cardinal Gasquet in Rome 90 years ago on his hearing of the death of the Venerable Suzanne on October 1, 1926, at the age of 91.

Cardinal Gasquet referred to her as the "Saintly Mother Mary Joseph" (her religious name) and said he had come to know her while she was resident in Rome during the First World War.

He wrote: "Not only I, but many have in the eternal city regarded her as a true Servant of God and I hope I may be spared to see at least the initial stages of the process of her beatification that she will most certainly be raised some day to the Altar I feel confident."

Suzanne Aubert was born in France on in 1835 and came to New Zealand in 1860 as a missionary, working in Hawke's Bay and then at Jerusalem where she opened an orphanage, established a farm and orchard, and founded New Zealand's first indigenous religious congregation, the Sisters of Compassion.

Her missionary work then took her to Wellington where she eventually died. Her funeral remains one of the largest held in New Zealand for a woman.

In December last year, Pope Francis announced that she had been named "Venerable", another stage in the lengthy and complex path to becoming a saint.

A miracle through the specific intercession of the Venerable Suzanne would lead to her being declared "Blessed" and, following a second miracle, after investigation and approval, the Vatican would declare her a saint.