‘Let my actions be a continual prayer and speak to you of my love’
‘Mā aku mahi ka rangona tonutia ngā karakia me taku aroha ki ā koe’.
– Meri Hōhepa Suzanne Aubert
Celebration Sunday is set aside to commemorate and celebrate the life, spirituality, and good works of Venerable Meri Hōhepa Suzanne Aubert. It is held on the first Sunday in October (6 Oct in 2024).
The Sisters of Compassion have created some resources to aid parishes and communities in celebrating this special day.
See the original resources here.
Pause
Take a moment to still yourself. Take a deep breath and ask God for a renewed sense of presence with you in this moment.
Readings of the Day
27th Sunday in Ordinary Time (year B)
First Reading: Genesis 2: 7a, 8b, 18-24
‘This one, at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh, this one shall be called ‘woman’.
Psalm: 128: 1-6
‘May the Lord bless us all the days of our lives.’
Second Reading: Hebrews 2:9-11
Christ was made perfect through suffering so that we might all be consecrated.
Alleluia: 1 John 4:12
‘If we love one another, God remains in us and his love is brought to perfection in us.’
Gospel: Mark 10:2-16
‘What God has joined, no human must separate.’
Suzanne Aubert was a woman of great hope and trust in God’s care of her and the work of compassion. She stated: “If you do not place your confidence in Providence, where will you place it? You can do nothing, say nothing, think nothing, but by the good pleasure of God! Jesus is our hope, our Saviour…Let us abandon ourselves to Him without reserve, and He will grant us such joy, such peace…” (Directory 22-23, page 185)
Watch this short video from the Suzanne Aubert website about her inspiring life and her importance to the Māori people of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Praying with Meri Hōhepa Suzanne Aubert
Leader: Meri Hōhepa Suzanne Aubert said,
‘Let my actions be a continual prayer and speak to you of my love’.
‘Mā aku mahi ka rangona tonutia ngā karakia me taku aroha ki ā koe’.
Together we pray:
Ki te ingoa o te Matua, o te Tamaiti, o te Wairua Tapu. Āmene
In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen
Together we pray the response: Lord, in our daily lives, may our actions speak of your love.
Leader: Take a moment to pause and gaze on this image of Meri Hōhepa Suzanne Aubert.
You are invited to sit in stillness with Meri Hōhepa Suzanne Aubert
– now pause, breathe in, breathe out.
What thoughts or feelings arise in you?
How does the quote speak to you?
What does it mean to you, that your actions could be a continual prayer?
How might your actions speak of Christ’s love?
Do you seek forgiveness for actions that you regret?
Bring these petitions to your prayer today.
How does your prayer lead you into loving action?
REFLECTION
Response: Lord, in our daily lives, may our actions speak of your love.
Leader reads slowly:
Pause
Breathe in Life,
Breathe out Fear,
Breathe in Life,
Breathe out Fear,
Breathe in Love,
Breathe out Pain,
Breathe in God,
Breathe out Peace
Pause again
Response: Lord, in our daily lives, may our actions speak of your love.
PRAYER TO SUZANNE AUBERT
Venerable Meri Hōhepa, our mother Suzanne,
I give thanks for your compassionate heart
modelled on Mary at the foot of the Cross.
Guide me as I seek to follow your way:
to be kind without weakness,
to be open to the call of suffering,
to be gracious, joyful and welcoming.
Help me live as you lived,
with humility and courage,
treasuring and sharing the gift of
compassion te pūaroha.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Written by Father James Lyons
E Meri Hōhepa te Kahurangi, tō tātou whaea
e Hūhana, e whakawhetai ana ahau
mō tōu ngākau pūaroha e whakatauria nei i te āhua
o te noho a Maria ki ngā rekereke o te Rīpeka.
Arahina ahau i ahau e whai ana i tōu tauira:
kia mākohakoha , te ngoikore nei,
kia taringa areare ki te reo karanga
o taumaha hārukiruki,
kia whakawhetai, kia hari, kia maioha.
Tohua mai te ara ora i whaia e koe,
i runga i te māhaki me te māia
me te whakamanawa, tuari hoki
i tēnei taonganui o te pūaroha.
Mā te Karaiti tō mātou Ariki.
Āmene.
Closing Karakia
Kia īnoi tatou, Let us pray:
God of compassion and love, may the example of the life of Venerable Meri Hōhepa Suzanne Aubert guide us in our lives with all tenderness. May our actions reflect your love O Lord, May we show your love in our eyes, May your truth be on our lips, May we welcome the lost and lonely, May we feed the poor and hungry, May we shelter the homeless in our society. Loving God, may we give freely with true generosity and may we look upon ourselves with kindness and compassion too, and understand your abounding and infinite love for us. We ask this prayer through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Together we join and sing the waiata to close our reflection time today:
(Tune: Kumbayah)
E te Atua, aroha mai O God love us
E te Atua, aroha mai O God love us
E te Atua, aroha mai O God love us
Āke, āke tonu e forever and ever, Amen
Āke, āke tonu e forever and ever, Amen
Many thanks to the Sisters of Compassion for their annual resources for Celebration Sunday.