Sr Dorothea Meade

Sister M Dorothea (Mary Hope Meade)

Sister Dorothea was born in Wanganui in 1923 - the eldest in a family of eight. She entered the Sisters of Compassion in January 1940, and was professed in March 1943. Sister Dorothea qualified as a trained teacher in 1952, and completed several years of study in Social Sciences towards a BA degree.

For her first 10 years as a Sister of Compassion Dorothea was at Jerusalem/Hiruharama, where she taught at the school there. Then from 1958 until 1981 Sister worked at our Home – St Raphael’s for young disabled people in Carterton. Dorothea was very forward thinking in her approach to this ministry. She was an innovative teacher, and brought passion and vision to this specialised area of education. The ideas and processes she worked with in our Carterton Home were years ahead of her time, and she was held in high regard within Special Needs Education. Sister Dorothea was instrumental in the founding of the Olympics for the Disabled. Her interest and love for these young people continues to this day.

After nearly 23 years working with the disabled, in 1981 Dorothea returned to Maori Pastoral Care. She was initially in Flaxmere-Hawke’s Bay, then back to the Wanganui area, first in Jerusalem and now she is based in Castlecliff. She brings to her work not only years of experience as a skilful educator, but also her great love and understanding of the Maori people.

Sister Dorothea has always been a living expression of the words on our Congregational Crest "Love in Sacrifice". Her commitment to this life she freely chose all those years ago is total and evident.

Click here to see Papal Award presented to Sr Dorothea

Back to Sister's Stories home