Sunday, April 29, 2012

Dark, strong, fruity, Belgian

Damiaan Donker, a dark Belgian ale, is named after St. Damien de Veuster of Molokai, Hawaii. The 19th-century Belgian missionary ministered to people with leprosy in Hawaii.

Damien beer honors its saintly namesake.
By DARLENE J.M. DELA CRUZ | Catholic News Service 

HONOLULU — First, a couple of schools. Then, several U.S. parishes. Now ... a fine craft beer?

Many things have been named after St. Damien de Veuster of Molokai, but none was more surprising than a recent discovery at a Whole Foods store in Hawaii -- a bottle of Belgian ale labeled with the likeness of St. Damien.

The beer is called "Damiaan Donker." The name pairs the Dutch words for "Damien" and "dark, strong ale."

A question printed on the back of a Damiaan Donker bottle anticipates what inquiring minds want to know: "Is it right to honor a saint with a beer?"  The beer's creator, chef Donato Loperfido, explained to the Hawaii Catholic Herald, Honolulu diocesan newspaper, why he thinks it is.

Loperfido is a lifelong Catholic who originally hails from Puglia, Italy. He has lived in Hawaii for about 25 years and has worked in the local food and beverage industry since he arrived. He currently runs Flavors of Italy, a company that imports international food and wine to the islands.

The idea to create a brew in honor of St. Damien came to Loperfido in 2009. The chef happened to be visiting Italy on the day of Damien's canonization, Oct. 11, and got wind of the events in Rome. As Damien was elevated to sainthood, Loperfido was awestruck at the honor received by the humble Belgian priest who served in Kalaupapa.  "I was very happy reading the paper one day when Father Damien was canonized," he said.

Loperfido wanted to create his own tribute to Hawaii's new saint, so he turned to his passion for fine fare. A review of his culinary connections led him to a small Belgian beer manufacturer called Brouwerij Kerkom, located near Damien's hometown of Tremelo. Loperfido contacted the brewery and told them of his idea to craft a beer for St. Damien.   "Belgium is the land of beer," Loperfido said. "I told (the brewers) I want something gentle like Father Damien was, with a little bit of spice" to represent Damien's "courage."

It took about six to eight months to develop the perfect recipe, Loperfido said. A blonde ale was one of the options created by the Belgian brewers, but Loperfido said the lighter beer wasn't strong enough to convey St. Damien's boldness and depth of character. They eventually brewed the perfect dark ale and launched it exclusively in Hawaii last year.  At Whole Foods in Kahala Mall, Damiaan Donker is sold in 11.2-ounce bottles for $5.99.
Steve Smith, a beer specialist at Whole Foods, said the store has been carrying the beer for about four or five months. He describes the beer as a "steady mover" in sales, and said Damiaan Donker is a great beer for the islands because of its taste and namesake.

"We love our Belgian beers, and of course the relationship between Father Damien and Hawaii is undisguiseable," Smith said. "It's a darker-style beer, but it's pretty fruit-forward and crafted with Hawaii in mind."

One of the local residents who has tasted Damiaan Donker is Sacred Hearts Father Herman Gomes. The pastor of St. Ann Church in Kaneohe said a friend had brought him bottles of the ale to sample.  "The beer was fairly good," he said.   So what does Father Gomes, a member of St. Damien's religious order, think about honoring a saint with a beer?

"Anything that brings people to an awareness of the life and works of Father Damien is good," he said. "We need more ways of getting the word out to all people."  "Beer is a good thing as long as it is not taken in excess," Father Gomes added.
Cruz is on the staff of the Hawaii Catholic Herald.
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Saints of Hawaii

Bishop Silva of Honolulu Speaks About St. Damien, Upcoming Canonization of Blessed Marianne Cope
ROME, APRIL 24, 2012 (Zenit.org).- In the Pontifical North American College stands a three-foot statue of St. Damien of Molokai, made from native Hawaiian Koa wood. Sculpted by Maui native Dale Zarrella, the statue depicts the Belgian-born saint as he would have been upon his first arrival to Hawaii: young, his face unmarked by the leprosy that would one day claim his life, hair and cassock blowing in the wind, and with one arm around a small child whose face is shielded by the saint's overcoat. The sculpture was blessed last week after evening prayer at the PNAC by Bishop Clarence Silva of Honolulu, Hawaii, while he was here in Rome for his ad limina pilgrimage.

Later this year, Hawaii will celebrate the canonization of Blessed Marianne Cope, the second Hawaiian saint to be canonized following St. Damien of Molokai's canonization in 2009. Blessed Marianne of Molokai was born in Germany, but moved to New York when she was a young child. As an adult she joined the Sisters of St. Francis. In 1883, she answered the call with six of her fellow sisters to go to Hawaii and serve the lepers there.

Bishop Silva, who has been bishop of Hawaii since 2005, spoke with ZENIT about the cult of St. Damien and Blessed Marianne Cope of Molokai’s upcoming canonization.

ZENIT: You dedicated a statue of St. Damien to be left here at the Pontifical North American College, and another copy of the same statue was blessed by the Pope and donated to the Vatican. Could you give the story behind this statue?

Bishop Silva: Dale Zarrella is a parishioner at St. Theresa's Kihei, Maui, and he got in touch with me about a year ago and spoke about wanting to do these statues, which he'd already designed. He was inspired by Damien, as so many people are, and it was his dream to have the Pope bless a copy and give it to the Vatican. I suggested to him that it might be more useful to have it at the seminary, so we made arrangements to have it shipped here, and tonight [April 18th] we decided to bless it at Evening Prayer. Dale Zarrella took another copy of the statue to the papal audience, and the Pope blessed it as he blessed all the religious objects, and it's in the Vatican now.

ZENIT: Could you speak about the cult of St. Damien and Blessed Marianne Cope among the Catholics in Hawaii?

Bishop Silva: The cult of Fr. Damien is very long-lived, and I have talked to people from throughout the world of various ages who have said that they have been inspired by Damien since they were children. His story is very well-known, and quite captivating. And, I think because he was dedicated to the Lord, no matter what – no hardship was too difficult for him to face – because he was the Lord's servant , he served the people in beautiful ways, people that others didn't want to serve, people who others didn't want to have anything to do with. He served them not only as a spiritual leader, as a priest of the parish in Molokai, but as a community organizer, as undertaker, as carpenter, as nurse. Whatever had to be done, Damien did. I think that has been a great inspiration to people for decades.

Marianne Cope was a contemporary of Damien. Her story is not quite as well-known: perhaps a little more humble story. Nevertheless, she still did great things in terms of her service to the people with leprosy in Hawaii. The king of Hawaii at that time wanted Catholic sisters to come and work with the leprosy patients because he knew that they were dedicated, that they would do a good job, that their work was quality work. He had the Catholic mission write to 50 different religious orders, and the only one who responded was Marianne Cope. She was the superior of the Franciscan sisters of Syracuse, and she said, “we will go.” There were seven sisters who went, including herself.

First they went to Honolulu, and there was a receiving station for leprosy patients. When they arrived there, it was in terrible shape; it was not a place that was very humane. Within a month or so, she and her sisters really turned it around, cleaned it up and made it a dignified place.

She also opened a general hospital on Maui, and then in 1888, just five months before Damien died, she went to Molokai, and began her work there which continued until her death in 1918, dying of natural causes at the age of 80. She never contracted the disease, nor did any of her sisters, some say because of a bargain she made with God, but also because they were trained nurses and were therefore much more fastidious about hygiene. Damien, on the other hand, was very free about sharing the poi bowl with the community and passing his pipe around, and being very hands-on with people. While the sisters where hands-on, they also knew that it was important to observe some hygienic rules.

But nevertheless, the people of Hawaii are very proud of Marianne, not only of what she did, but of her legacy. There is a whole health care system that grew out of her efforts, which is still functioning today, and serves many people. There are schools that the sisters have taught at. So, there is a great devotion to Marianne.

ZENIT: Could you speak about the process preceding her canonization?

Bishop Silva: In 2005, Marianne was beatified, less than a month after Benedict had been elected Pope. Since then, there have been a lot of prayers for healing through her intercession. One of the things I think we need to say is that we don't believe saints heal people; it is God who does that. It is God who performs miracles. But, we pray to the saints in the sense of asking them to pray for us, to intercede for us, to go to God and say "please help the person who is in need."

A woman in Syracuse New York – who was not a Catholic, by the way – was dying of cancer, and through the intervention of one of the sisters of St. Francis prayed to Marianne and was almost spontaneously healed. According to the process, that [healing] is written up, sent to the Congregation for Saints’ Causes. They review it meticulously. You have to have the medical reports that say that the person was terminally ill, and then all of a sudden there was a reversal of that and there was no medical explanation for it. Then, all of that evidence is reviewed by a panel of physicians for the congregation, and all they can say is that there was a disease that seemed to be fatal, then there wasn't this disease all of a sudden, and there is no medical reason we can give why this healing happened. Then it goes to theological commission, and they review the case from their point of view to see if it was indeed through Marianne's intercession that this healing took place; they have the testimony of witnesses there when prayers were offered and a relic of Marianne was placed upon this woman. They review all of that, and determine that yes, it was through her intercession.

Then it goes to full congregation of bishops and cardinals, and they review all the material that came from those two boards: the medical board and the theological board. If they pass on it, it then goes to the Holy Father and he makes the final decision.
By Ann Schneible
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Sunday, April 22, 2012

New Saint Damien Sculpture to receive Pope’s Blessing




The three-foot tall sculpture of Saint Damien, as created by Dale Zarrella of Maui. Photo courtesy of www.dalezarrella.com







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Friday, April 20, 2012

DAMIEN One man Show - June 1



On June 1, 2012, from the sanctuary of Holy Rosary Cathedral in Vancouver, Fr. Edward Danylo Evanko hopes to give the performance of a lifetime as Fr. Damien in Aldyth Morris’ one-man play, DAMIEN. Guest organist Marc D’Anjou will perform C.M. Widor’s famous TOCCATA from Symphony #5, and the Redeemer Pacific Chamber Choirwill perform a program of traditional Catholic music, including the DIES IRAE in its original Gregorian Chant. Proceeds from this event go to support Catholic post-secondary education at Redeemer Pacific College.

June 1 at Holy Rosary Cathedral promises to be a moving and spectacular event. Please join us for this unforgettable evening and support Catholic education at Redeemer Pacific College. Tickets are $25 each, and groups of 12 or more are $20 each.

Full event details available at www.redeemerpacific.ca/damien
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ogy, dogma or otherwise.
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Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Pope to bless Maui artist's St. Damien sculpture

WAILUKU, Hawaii (AP) — The pope will be blessing a Maui artist's sculpture of St. Damien.
Dale Zarrella is headed to Vatican City with high-ranking clergy from the Diocese of Honolulu for Wednesday's blessing by Pope Benedict XVI.
The Maui News (http://bit.ly/HN07ZQ ) reports a 3-foot-tall, 90-pound bronze replica of a young Damien will become part of the Vatican collection. Zarrella says a second statute will be installed and blessed at a Vatican City seminary school.
Honolulu Bishop Larry Silva's visit to Rome will include a report to the pope on the state of the diocese.
Father Damien is known for caring for Hansen's disease patients forced to live on a remote Molokai peninsula in the late 1800s. He became a saint in 2009.

Read more: http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/article/Pope-to-bless-Maui-artist-s-St-Damien-sculpture-3485836.php#ixzz1sIfCtlBd
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Monday, April 16, 2012

St. Damien of Molokai


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Saturday, April 14, 2012

NOVENA PRAYER TO ST DAMIEN, PATRON OF THOSE WITH HIV/AIDS

ST DAMIEN DE VEUSTER (ST DAMIEN OF MOLOKAI), FEAST DAY: MAY 10th

ABOUT ST DAMIEN:
 Damien de Veuster was born in Belgium in 1840 into a Flemish-speaking family of grain merchants. His parents wanted him to go into the family business but when he wanted to join the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, like his older brother, they did not stand in his way.
 Damien’s older brother was meant to go to Hawaii to the missions, but when he became ill Damien arranged to take his place.
 Once ordained and given his own parish, Damien was full of energy – evangelizing, building churches, farming, ministering to his parishioners, and debunking voodoo. Later he volunteered to be the resident priest on Molokai, a horrific leper colony, where he set about the physical and spiritual care of the sufferers, changing their lives until he himself died of the disease sixteen years later. He was beatified in 1995 and canonized in 2009.
 He is considered patron of those with leprosy, those suffering from HIV/AIDS, those who are bullied, and all those cast out by society. He is also patron of the American state of Hawaii.

FIRST DAY:

Dear St Damien, you were sent away to school in a region
 where you didn’t speak the language and people tried to bully you because of it. We pray for those who are bullied whether at school or at work or in whatever situation. May they emulate you in not accepting it. We pray especially for (mention your request).
 Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.

SECOND DAY:

Dear St Damien, you loved your parents but you loved God more. You knew God was calling you to the priesthood and you answered that call although you knew your parents had other hopes of you. May we put God first and never refuse his call because of any other attachment. We pray especially for (mention your request).
 Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.

THIRD DAY:

Dear St Damien, you gave up family, country and language to go and evangelize, knowing that you would never see your home or family again. Accord us something of your courage and clear-sightedness. We pray especially for (mention your request).
 Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.

FOURTH DAY:

Dear St Damien, in Hawaii you worked tirelessly, giving everything to make Christ known. We pray that we can value our faith as much as you did. We pray especially for (mention your request).
 Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.

FIFTH DAY:

Dear St Damien, when you went to Molokai you were
 prepared to give up your life to serve others. Help us to understand this Christian love and begin to desire it for ourselves. We pray especially for (mention your request).
 Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.

SIXTH DAY:

Dear St Damien, when you first arrived in the leper colony you were revolted by the patients, but you didn’t let them see this and continued to work for them. We pray to have this spirit so we can put others first, thinking of their needs and feelings rather than our own. We pray especially for (mention your request).
 Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.

SEVENTH DAY:

Dear St Damien, you didn’t deal well with bureaucracy and often offended people by your brusqueness. You had to learn to ask forgiveness. May we never think God cannot use us because of our character, and may we too have the humility to ask pardon of those we have offended. We pray especially for (mention your request).
 Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.

EIGHTH DAY:

Dear St Damien, you suffered greatly on Molokai because you were cut off from the sacraments, especially the sacrament of reconciliation. May we understand the importance of this sacrament and have recourse to it often. We pray especially for (mention your request).
 Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.

NINTH DAY:

Dear St Damien, you suffered terrible loneliness and turned to the Blessed Sacrament for comfort. We pray for all who are lonely. Help us to give time to anyone we know who is lonely, and to give time to Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. We pray especially for (mention your request).
 Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.

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Thursday, April 5, 2012

Photo of the Week: A Hawaiian Sacred Spot

Shielded by the highest sea cliffs in the world, Molokai’s Kalaupapa peninsula has shed its dark past but retained its natural beauty.
View of cemetery at St. Philomena Church founded by Father Damien. Image: Eric Hiss
Wandermelon’s Eric Hiss recently had the opportunity to visit Kalaupapa National Historic Park on the island of Molokai’s north shore. Called “the most Hawaiian island” for its ability to avoid much of the modern malaise that affects other Hawaiian islands, namely traffic, strip malls and hordes of tourists, Molokai remains authentic and apart. One of Molokai’s most striking attractions is this isolated region shielded from the rest of the island by the highest sea cliffs in the world. These jagged green palisades soaring 1,800 feet into the sky were the reason Hawaii’s King Kamehameha V established a leper colony here following an outbreak of the disease in Hawaii in 1873, isolating affected islanders and others who contracted the disease.Into this chaotic and dangerous world stepped Father Damien, a young Belgian priest who volunteered to serve the community here. After ministering to the colony for 15 years, Father Damien ultimately contracted the disease and succumbed to what is now called Hodgkins disease in 1889. This image shows the beauty of the location and majesty of the cliffs, but also the serenity of the cemetery where a relic of Father Damien is now buried (his grave is the lei-draped cross in the bottom left of the image). “You can’t help but feel the power and beauty of the land here,” says Eric. “It’s also impossible not to feel humbled by the efforts of Father Damian in an environment that even today is isolated and far-flung.” Today, visitors can experience the area either arriving on muleback or by hiking down to Kalaupapa National Historic Park. Father Damien has been beatified by the Catholic Church and will be named a saint in October.

Read more: http://wandermelon.com/2012/04/04/photo-of-the-week-a-hawaiian-sacred-spot/#ixzz1rAaQkiT8
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