News Archive 2007

Sisters Margaret Mary is a bit of a legend in Wellington.

For the past 15 years, she’s worked at the Suzanne Aubert Compassion Centre – as manager for eight years.

However, next March Sister Margaret Mary will leave the centre to embark on her OE.

Having only travelled to Australia, Sister Margaret Mary jumped at a chance to travel to Ireland on a sabbatical.

"I'm very excited about going to Ireland. It's where my grandparents come from".

"I'm hoping I might develop an accent", she says, laughing.

One booking she's made so far is for a 10 week course at an eco-spirituality centre.

"I'll be looking at theology around the care of the planet, and based on an organic farm and gardens", she says.

Throughout her time at the centre, Sisters Margaret Mary has seen many changes, including the move from Sussex St to the current building on Tory St eight years ago.

The main room at Sussex St was long and narrow and meals tended to be "quite institutional", says Sr Margaret Mary, whereas the Tory St kitchen operates more like a cafeteria.

"People can move around. The whole environment lends itself to people being much more sociable with each other and with volunteers and staff", she says.

When they moved to Tory St, the sisters moved from their house above the Sussex St centre.

"We were split into two communities – one group went to a house in Lyall Bay and the other to Island Bay", she says.

Of her memories, Sister Margaret Mary says "the loveliest are often very simple things".

"It's people coming back to tell you they have a job, after they've been at the soup kitchen and were known there. Some come in and make donations. Those things are really significant – when you see such a change in people's lives", she says.

Then there's the generosity of volunteers, she says.

In the past four or five years, there's been a significant increase in the number of young people volunteering, says Sisters Margaret Mary.

"We've seen a growing social conscience, which is completely against what you usually hear of young people. Our experiences are continually so very positive", she says.

Sister Margaret Mary says when she asks volunteers why they've come most have the same reply.

"They say they've had a fairly privileged upbringing and would like to do something for someone who hasn't".

It's not just the young volunteering.

"We have all sorts of people of all age groups, from the young to some who have been volunteering for up to 40 years. It's a wonderful example of faithfulness and loyalty to the organisation and the people we serve", she says.

Although her job can be challenging at times, Sister Margaret Mary says she sees "so much goodness".

"Particularly around Christmas time. We see amazing generosity of people", she says.

And the kindness of guests to each other never ceases to amaze her.

"It's always lovely to see. It's not there all the time, but it's something significant. The number of people who thank you for the meal…those things mean a lot when you are there every day", she says.

As manager, Sister Mary has found Wellington's social services agencies work "amazingly well together".

"When someone has a need we can't meet here, we know exactly where to refer them and who to. It feels like working in a great, big organisation where you just send them to another department".

"The longer I am here, the more I marvel at how well various agencies work together. It means much better outcomes for people who need help", she says.

Sister Margaret Mary's replacement is Desmond Ang, who started at the beginning of the month.

Mr Ang is Singaporean and has lived in New Zealand since 2005. He has a background in social work with the deaf and in the mental health sector.

Sister Margaret Mary is thrilled with his appointment. "It's been absolutely fantastic to see him signing (to the deaf). That is a huge answer to our prayer", she says.

Written by Kate Wright, November 27, 2007
Photo by Crispin Anderlini
Article courtesy of City Life News