Sisters of Compassion

Between breakfast and dinner at the Soup Kitchen I am out and about in the community. Some of my work is with other agencies, such as Catholic Social Services where I work with families and Kohanga, the Catholic chaplaincy at the University, where I work with students. This year I joined the Pacific Health Community Team established as an advisory group to South East and City Primary Health Organisation (SECPHO). I enjoy working with the health professionals, looking for ways to improve the well-being of our Pacific people.

All of the Sisters and Melissa are involved in visiting in the Community. We visit people on a regular basis. Some, like a woman I visit, who loves to pray the Rosary with me; live alone and are unable to go out. Others, such as the former guests of the Soup Kitchen that Melissa visits, can be surrounded by others in Council flats but are socially isolated. So much of this work is about being present, walking beside and listening.

One area I am currently involved with, is supporting a young Tongan boy who is a student at a primary school in Wellington. The student, who has been living in New Zealand for six months, sadly lost his father a few months ago. His English is limited and he is very shy. The boy is taking part in “Sessions for Growth”, a programme aimed at helping him work through issues and I help by talking to the student in Tongan and supporting him. I know how important it is to hear your own language and I see the student making real progress with the programme. It is wonderful to be working in the community, making connections, sharing stories, supporting one another in growth.

Sr Ema Konokono

News Archive 2008