Sisters of Compassion  
Home of Compassion

 

Nau mai, haere mai!  Welcome to Jerusalem/Hiruharama!

Jerusalem nestles in a valley beside the flowing waters of the Whanganui River.  The houses in the small settlement are clustered around the Patiarero Marae.  Suzanne Aubert came here at the invitation of the Maori people in 1883.  Here the Sisters of Compassion came into being, and were formally recognised by the Catholic Church in 1892.  There has been a continuous presence of sisters in the local community ever since.  The Sisters are privileged to have the status of tangata whenua (native to the area).

Jerusalem
View of Jerusalem from the Whanganui river

Suzanne Aubert tells the Sisters 'Never forget...a Maori village was the cradle of our Institue.' Directory p77

The Community

Srs Margaret Mary, Anna Maria & Sue

At present there are three sisters in this community.  Sisters Anna Maria Shortall, Sue Cosgrove and Margaret Mary Murphy, are kaitiaki (guardians) of the church, the old convent, and the grounds.  Over recent years, the historic church and old convent have been beautifully restored.  Many pilgrims and visitors from around the world who visit and/or stay here each year, appreciate the special tranquillity and peace they find at Jerusalem.

 

Come aside and rest awhile

The Old Convent is available for groups and retreats. Pilgrims and travellers are also welcome to stay. 

20 single beds in open dormitories upstairs

1 wheelchair accessible, double room with ensuite

There is a large room, and smaller rooms suitable for group work

There is a TV set available for DVDs (no outside aerial)

Bring your own food - catering is not provided

Full cooking facilities available

The nearest stores and petrol stations are in Wanganui or Raetihi

Bring your own linen or sleeping bag if possible

Shoes are not worn inside (slippers or socks are helpful)

There is very limited cell phone reception

 

Dormitory bed
Photo of a dormitory bed

The cost is $25 per person, per night. This can be negotiated if necessary.

Make bookings by contacting the sisters

In writing to:

Sisters of Compassion
Jerusalem R.D.6
Whanganui River
Wanganui 4576

 

Email: sr.sue@compassion.org.nz

Phone: 06 3428190

How to get here...

Click here to see a map

From the south- by motor vehicle or bike

When approaching Wanganui

Follow signs ‘Whanganui National Park’ along the right side of the river, avoiding Wanganui City centre

14kms from the city, turn left at the ‘Whanganui National Park’ Pipiriki sign

Follow this road for approximately one and a half hours

The last 15kms is a gravel road

Ranana (London) is the settlement before Jerusalem

Approaching Jerusalem you will see the church on the hill, and the sign ‘Jerusalem / Hiruharama’

The convent and church are accessed by the 3rd driveway (the first two are to the Marae) on the right over the bridge

The number 5050 is on our letter box


There is the option Monday to Friday to come from, and/or return to Wanganui with the rural mailman. Phone Noel on 06 3477534 or 027 2012472
info@whanganuitours.co.nz
www.whanganuitours.co.nz

From the north by motor vehicle or bike

Drive to Raetihi

Follow the road to Pipiriki, about one hours drive – gravel road much of the way

From Pipiriki to Jerusalem is about 14km

The old convent and church are just visible approaching this way

Look out for the sign ‘Jerusalem / Hiruharama’

The number 5050 is on the first letter box, on your left, near our driveway


The local community and ministry of the Sisters

The Sisters offer hospitality to those who come to visit and stay and are actively involved with the local communities of the river.  They have a particular commitment to the Ngati Hau people at Jerusalem and Ngati Ruaka people of Ranana .  They are very much part of the local happenings and support the one remaining school on the river, Whanganui Awa School at Ranana, teaching CRE (Christian Religious Education), music and assisting in other ways.
A project in the life of the sisters these days is striving to live in a more sustainable way. Seasonal fruit, from very old trees at Jerusalem, is made into jams, jellies, chutney and relish and sold locally as well as at the River Traders Market in Whanganui.
 
The Sisters live in a house built in 1990, near the church.


A little bit of history

In earlier days, Jerusalem / Hiruharama, was one of the largest settlements on the Whanganui River.  It was known as a meeting place for korero (discussion).
The Catholic Maori Mission was first established in the area, by Fr Lampila (a priest of the Society of Mary) in 1854. However, following the battle of Motua in 1864, (so named for the small island down-river from Jerusalem and near Ranana), the Catholic Mission went into decline. Suzanne Aubert arrived, with two Sisters of St Joseph of Nazareth,     with the hope of rejuvenating the mission, twenty years later in 1883.

The land on which the St Joseph’s Church and the Old Convent sits, belongs to local Maori families.  The historic buildings belong to the Catholic Diocese of Palmerston North.  Both buildings are classified with the NZ Historic Places Trust. Some believe that St Joseph’s Church, with the interesting mix of Maori and European influence, is the most photographed church in Aotearoa / New Zealand.  This church is the second church on this site, the first having been destroyed by fire in 1888.  Suzanne Aubert and an accompanying sister travelled to many parts of New Zealand, including, very successfully, the West Coast of the South Island, collecting money to rebuild the church.  Suzanne believed that as a Pakeha (white skinned person) had burnt the church down, Pakeha should rebuild it.  The church was dedicated in 1893.

James K Baxter
A famous New Zealand poet, James K Baxter lived in Jerusalem in the 1970’s.  A number of his followers joined him and a commune developed which continued for some years.  (Hemi) Baxter is buried at Jerusalem. Click here to go to Baxter’s poem ‘Haere Ra’ which was written for Sister Sheila, when she was leaving Jerusalem in 1969.
 

 

Suzanne Aubert