DAUGHTERS OF OUR LADY OF COMPASSION (Wellington). – A religious congregation founded in 1883 at Jerusalem in the diocese of Wellington through the efforts of a pious woman, Susanna Aubert, who had come from Lyons to New Zealand as early as 1860. The new foundation began its juridical life in 1892 with the approval of the local Ordinary; on 10 April 1917 it received the decree of praise, and on 14 February 1940 the first approval of its constitutions.
The specific purpose of the Congregation is the exercise of works of charity for the sick of any colour or religion in home hospitals; for illegitimate, abandoned, orphaned children and poor girls; the sisters also run kindergartens, day-nurseries, soup-kitchens for the unemployed poor, etc. In 1947 it had 120 sisters in houses spread across the dioceses of New Zealand.