Fr. Mike's Bike Ride

To coincide with Fr Michael Ruddy's ss.cc. "Bike Hike" (4th-9th June) for the Sacred Hearts Leprosy Mission in India (please see: www.frmikesbikehike.com to support and sponsor this worthy cause).  Fr Michael will be giving the "Living Word" item on RTE Radio 1's Rising Time show. The item will be aired at 6.40am each morning and repeated at 1am, Mon/Fri 

SEE:
www.frmikesbikehike.com & http://bit.ly/LGJsqa

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No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Mozlink’ for any or all of the articles/images placed here. The placing of an article does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.

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St. Damien of Molokai, Patron of Hawaii

I stumbled upon a short clip put together by www.realcatholictv.com on the life of St. Damien of Molokai. He is the Patron Saint of the Diocese of Honolulu and of Hawaii. The video is a bit older (as it was released right prior to his Canonization) but is still a wonderful brief look at his life. For more information on St. Damien please visit www.fatherdamien.com

A few months ago I had the honor of going on a pilgrimage to St. Damienʻs Church along with Fr. Joseph Lee, FSSP. See below to watch the video of our journey. http://vimeo.com/34984819

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No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Mozlink’ for any or all of the articles/images placed here. The placing of an article does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.

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Film making competition for schools in the Diocese of Westminster

Fr Richard Nesbitt and the DVD Production Team

There is still a chance for schools in the Diocese of Westminster to enter the Micah Film Challenge. Based on these words from the prophet Micah: “This is what God asks of you; only this, to act justly, to love tenderly and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah: 6: 8) the Micah Film Challenge asks primary and secondary schools to produce a short film illustrating these words in action in their school community. Entries could be simple videos of children talking about how they act justly in their community or walk humbly with God or be a record of an activity, liturgical celebration or involvement in the local community. Or schools may want to work with film makers, as St Vincent’s Primary school in Acton did in producing The Story of Father Damien. The film can be seen below and tells the story of a Belgian Catholic priest, who worked to combat leprosy in the 19th Century and who was canonised in 2009.

Primary and secondary schools in the Diocese of Westminster can enter films in two categories: Short Films of up to 5 minutes and Longer Films of up to 20 minutes. Winning entries will receive £500 and a free film-making workshop from a professional filmmaker which will take place in each of the winning schools. The closing date for entries is 1 June 2012 and winners will be announced at the end of June 2012. To enter just download and fill out the form - good luck!

Fr Richard Nesbitt, Vocations Director for the Diocese of Westminster, said: “The selection panel will be looking for talent and originality in the production of the films and how well they bring to life the themes of ‘The Micah Film Challenge’.” “There are no strict rules about the content or style of the films, but here are some ideas.” “To act justly – a film about a justice and peace project in your school, a local campaign you have been involved in, or a justice issue which you have been studying in one of your classes.” “To love tenderly– a short drama about what it means to love as God loves in our everyday lives, a project you have been involved in to love and care for the environment which is God’s creation, or a music video to bring a song about loving as God loves to life.” “To walk humbly with your God – a film about how pupils express some aspect of the faith in your school life, a biography of a saint (perhaps your school’s patron), a film of a school trip/pilgrimage which helped you to deepen your faith”     Fr Richard Nesbitt richardnesbitt@rcdow.org.uk
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Kalaupapa National Historic Park And Leper Settlement, Molokai

Some people – me, for instance – tend to skip museums when traveling in favor of fresh air or outdoor recreation. It's always a treat when I can combine the two, especially because I'm fascinated by indigenous cultures. Though not considered museums in the strictest sense, National Historic Parks, Monuments and the like often do have buildings, exhibits, or relics with educational materials that provide a museum-like experience. When I can combine that with some physically challenging activity, it often makes for an incredibly rewarding day.

While relatively few visitors ever make it to the Hawaiian island of Molokai, located just off of Maui's western shore, its fame is global due to its tragic history. From the mid-19th century until 1969, thousands of islanders afflicted with leprosy (Hansen's Disease) were forced into isolation on the Kalaupapa peninsula on the northern shore. A smaller settlement also exists at Kalawao, on the eastern side. Today, Kalaupapa National Historic Park receives thousands of visitors annually, who come to pay tribute – and satisfy their morbid curiosity – to a tragic episode in Hawaii's turbulent history.

Molokai's North Shore is covered in dense rainforest and has the world's highest sea cliffs, which tower over 2,000 feet. These geographical features made Kalaupapa the ideal location in which to displace lepers, often by cruel methods such as tossing them off of ships, which sometimes resulted in fatalities. The forcible removal of native Hawaiians from their 'aina – family and land, which are at the core of their culture – devastated generations of islanders.

Critical to the development and notoriety of the settlement was the arrival of Joseph De Veuster, a Belgian missionary better known as Father Damien. Although not the first missionary or caregiver at Kalawao and Kalaupapa, it was he who turned the colonies into a place of hope, rather than exile and death.

Father Damien spoke Hawaiian and established schools and other educational and recreational projects. He developed a water system, expanded St. Philomena Catholic Church, and became a source of comfort to residents. He died of Hansen's Disease in 1889, and was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1995.

Although a cure for Hansen's Disease was discovered in the 1940's, most of the colony chose to remain at Kalaupapa, as it had become a tight-knit community. Today, only a, uh, handful of elderly residents remain, keeping alive Kalaupapa's legacy by talking story with visitors and relatives alike.

The National Park Service established Kalaupapa as part of its system in 1980 (previously, it was a National Historic Landmark, the Kalaupapa Leper Settlement). While somewhat pricey and challenging to get to, it's worth a visit if you're at all interested in Hawaiian culture and history.

You can get to Molokai year round by either regional air carriers or ferry via Maui. To enter the Park, state law requires a permit from the State Department of Health, and no children under 16 are permitted. All entries are booked and must be prearranged through Damien Tours, which is endorsed by the National Park Service (there is also a Father Damien Tours out of Honolulu, but I can't speak with authority to its quality).

Two excellent ways to gain entry to the park – via prior reservation – are by hiking the 3.5-mile trail or on muleback. Kalaupapa Mule Tour has been a park concession since the early 70s, and I highly recommend the ride if your butt and legs are in good shape and you don't have a fear of heights. It provides a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience, but be prepared for insanely steep, narrow trails and brutal switchbacks. Whether you hike or ride, please be sure to do an honest assessment of your physical abilities beforehand; another option is to do a flightseeing/ground tour. There are no medical facilities at the park.
by Laurel Miller See excellent photos at http://aol.it/JptRea 

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No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Mozlink’ for any or all of the articles/images placed here. The placing of an article does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise. 

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Molokai-Mainland Sweet Potato Palau

The following post was submitted by Islander at HI Cookery, in honor of today's feast of St. Damien of Molokai, Hawaii's patron saint!

May 10: Feast Day of St. Damien of Molokai

We took a an inter-island trip with Islander’s parents and brother a few years ago when her Daddy turned 70. The family flew on a small plane from Oahu to Molokai to see where Hawaii’s recently canonized St. Damien served those who were afflicted with Hansen’s disease (leprosy).

Damien de Veuster came to Hawaii from Belgium in 1864 and was ordained a priest in Honolulu. A few years later, on May 10, 1873, Father Damien volunteered to minister to the people with leprosy who were exiled to Kalaupapa and Kalawao on the island of Molokai. He himself contracted the disease and, on April 15, 1889, died among those he lovingly served in the name of Christ.

During our family’s private pilgrimage to Kalaupapa and Kalawao, we were able to personally place floral lei at St. Damien’s gravesite on the grounds of St. Philomena Church that he built. We also toured the other solemn and historical areas where Blessed Mother Marianne Cope and Brother Joseph Dutton worked to support St. Damien’s mission to help the patients physically and spiritually.

In honor of St. Damien of Molokai, Hawaii’s patron saint, we made Molokai sweet potato palau. As we do not have Hawaiian ingredients readily available on the mainland, such as purple Molokai sweet potato and Maui onions, we needed to make some substitutions for this side dish.

Serve sweet potato palau—Molokai or mainland style—on the Feast Day of St. Damien. Aloha!

Recipe
(Adapted from Chef Peter Merriman on Hawaii Magazine)

Ingredients
3 large purple Molokai sweet potatoes (we used regular sweet pototoes)
1 cup coconut milk
1 cup Maui onion, diced (we used Texas sweet onion)
¾ cup butter, divided use, softened
1 teaspoon Hawaiian sea salt

Directions
Wash and peel the sweet potatoes. Dice into 2-inch cubes. Place in a large pot and cover with water. Simmer until tender, about 15-20 minutes. Drain the sweet potatoes.

Place the sweet potatoes in a large bowl with ½ cup (1 stick) of butter. The heat from the sweet potatoes should melt the butter. Stir in the the coconut milk and 3 tablespoons of butter. Mash until smooth. Set aside. In a skillet, saute the onions with the remaining 1 tablespoon of butter. Cook over medium heat until the onions are soft and translucent. Add the cooked onions to the mashed sweet potatoes. Season with salt. Stir well or whip with a hand mixer until creamy. Serve hot as a side dish.

Notes
Palau is a traditional Hawaiian-style pudding made of sweet potatoes and coconut cream, which inspired the chef to adapt the cooking method for a savory side dish. It has a pudding-like texture similar to whipped sweet potatoes. 
St. Damien was buried on Molokai but his body was exhumed in 1936 and brought back to Belgium, his home country and final resting place. Remains of his right hand were returned to Hawaii and re-interred in his original grave on the grounds of St. Philomena Church in Molokai. His relic (foot bone fragment) travels around the world for veneration. 
St. Damien was canonized on October 11, 2009. In addition to observing his feast day on May 10, Hawaii also celebrates St. Damien’s Day on April 15. 
The background fabric in the final food photo above is from Highlander’s aloha shirt showing motifs of St. Damien. 
Thanks to Catholic Cuisine at http://bit.ly/KaJ664

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No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Mozlink’ for any or all of the articles/images placed here. The placing of an article does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise. 

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St. Damien of Molokai – Activities for the Family

The Footsteps of the American Saints program is offered by the National Catholic Committee on Scouting, but it is open to everyone, Scouts and non-Scouts alike. This program provides age appropriate religious activities to help young people learn more about the lives of Blesseds and Saints from America.

One of the sets of activities revolves around St. Damien of Molokai. His feast day is May 10. He volunteered to serve at a leper colony on the island of Molokai in Hawaii in the late 19th century. Eventually he contracted leprosy and died from the disease. Fr. Damien was canonized in 2009.

As part of the Footsteps of the American Saints program, participants can earn a patch with Fr. Damien on it. (This image says “Blessed”. I don’t know if they have changed it since his canonization.)

There are a list of requirements and activities to earn the patch. Participants in 1st  through 5th grades must complete 4 requirements and 2 of the activities. Participants in 6th through 12th Grades must complete 5 requirements and 3 of the activities. But even if you don’t want to earn the patch, you might still want to teach your children about St. Damien and do a few of the activities:

Requirements
 •He took the name of a 4th century physician and Saint when he became a priest…Fr. Damien. What was his original name and why do we call him Saint Damien of Molokai?
 •Before going to Hawaii, Saint Damien of Molokai worked as a missionary. What were the circumstances that allowed him to travel to Hawaii?
 •When did he become a priest?
 •Saint Damien of Molokai was given a memorial feast day by Pope John Paul II in 1995. When is that day celebrated?
 •What is Saint Damien of Molokai most known for devoting his life to?
 •King David Kalakaua bestowed what honor on Damien?

Activities
 •Discuss with your family or counselor, some of the values that you admire most about Saint Damien of Molokai . What is he known for? How can you be more like him?
 •Draw a picture showing some of his accomplishments. Share this picture with your family.
 •Create a poster of hope and deliver it to a children hospital in your community.
 •Visit with the sick or elderly. Spend time learning what they like. Possibly bring a kitten or puppy from the pound to visit with the elderly for a couple of hours.

As you can see, this program really encourages students to learn more about the saint. You can find additional resources and an order form for the patches at the National Catholic Committee on Scouting website: Footsteps of American Saints – Saint Damien of Molokai
Thanks to My Catholic Family at http://bit.ly/Jszlnt 

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No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Mozlink’ for any or all of the articles/images placed here. The placing of an article does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise. 

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A Saint for the Outcast and those Ostracized

When one goes to the Hawaiian Islands, most anticipate arriving in paradise.With year-round temperatures hovering around the low 80s, ocean breezes, and tropical plants, Hawaii is the vacation destination for many. In fact, a popular phrase in Hawaii “Chillaxin”,  is a conjunction of the idea of “chilling out” and “relaxing.”   Most recently even Disney has entered the scene with opening a resort on Oahu.

Paradise redefined.
Most don’t associate Hawaii with having anything to do with suffering.  Most these days would consider being banished to Hawaii a luxury. However, like many communities in the old days, Hawaii once had its own leper colony which was on the Island of Molokai. Native Hawaiians were introduced to many diseases previously unknown to them through foreign sailors and visitors. Leprosy, characterized by disfigurement and rotting flesh, was perceived to be highly contagious and caused widespread hysteria and fear.  Anyone suspected of having this condition, also known as Hansen’s disease, was hunted down and banished to a remote area of Molokai. They were forbidden to return to mainstream society. In spite of meager efforts by their government, these persons were left to fend for themselves often being too sick to tend to crops and to build a thriving community. This colony became a wasteland of diseased people. They had inadequate shelter, no healthcare, little food, and unsanitary conditions.  The beautiful island of Molokai had turned into a living hell for such people during the 1800s.

“Discolored patches appear on the skin, especially on the cheeks; and the parts affected lose their feeling. After a time this discoloration coves the whole body; then ulcers begin to open, mainly at the extremities. The flesh is eaten away, and gives out a fetid smell; even the breath of the leper becomes so foul that the air around is poisoned with it.” – St. Damien

The ostracized.
One of my kids in reviewing a vocabulary list for school this morning asked me for a definition of ostracized. My pat answer is to look it up in the dictionary; or in keeping modern technology, to do a search for it on an iPhone. But the request brought to my mind that today, May 10, is the Feast Day of St. Damien of Molokai. This saint was all about the ostracized. He is the patron of those with leprosy and the outcast.

St. Damien of Molokai.
St. Damien was born January 3, 1840 in Belgium. He was named Josef de Veuster at birth. He became a Roman Catholic priest through the missionary order of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. He volunteered to go to Hawaii in 1864 and after 1873 spent 16 years on the quarantined island of Molokai. In the process of caring for the physical and spiritual needs of the inhabitants, he eventually contracted leprosy himself and died from its complications on April 15, 1889.  Pope Benedict canonized him in 2009.

St. Damien did more than care for the spiritual needs of the community. In addition to providing the Sacraments and hearing confessions, he was not inhibited to engage in physical labor which included cleaning and dressing diseased flesh, building and repairing homes, burying the dead, and planting and harvesting crops. These were corporal works of mercy. He gave the ultimate sacrifice of his life to these people. Due to his contact with leprosy, he was banished from mainstream society. He suffered alienation from Hawaiian officials and his religious superiors in Europe. He was also falsely accused of misconduct as leprosy was once mistakenly assumed to be sexually transmitted.

A message for all helpers.
By human nature and by the instinct to survive, many of us may naturally try to keep away from those who are undesirable and pose a potential health risk. We can think of many different types of outcasts in our society.  Examples include those who are homeless, whose who are struggling with addictions, those who might be handicapped, those with contagious diseases, and the aging. Sometimes they might even be people who are different in some slight way. Work with these types of persons can be tiring, demanding, and result in being shunned. It is important to be connected to a source of strength and support. There are many saints in history who have exhibited such compassion for the unwanted of society. Examples include St. Francis of Assisi and Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta.

St. Damien’s work on Molokai was a testimony to the unselfish love of God and shows where he was able to get his source of strength. In spite of how disfigured and otherwise repulsive the presence of these human beings, Father Damien chose to help them and to try to restore their dignity. St. Damien attributed his ability to do this difficult work to the help of God through the Eucharist:

The Blessed Sacrament is indeed the stimulus for us all, for me as it should be for you, to forsake all worldly ambitions. Without the constant presence of our Divine Master upon the altar in my poor chapels, I never could have persevered casting my lot with the lepers of Molokai; the foreseen consequence of which begins now to appear on my skin, and is felt throughout the body. Holy Communion being the daily bread of a priest, I feel myself happy, well pleased, and resigned in the rather exceptional circumstances in which it has pleased Divine Providence to put me.

Thanks to Lady Counselor Lady at http://bit.ly/Ja4i2J

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St Damien of Molokai

Today (May 10th) was the feast of one of the most awesome priests in the communion of saints. (In my humble opinion.)   On this day in 1873, Father Damien de Veuster landed at the Kalaupapa Leper Colony on the island of Molokai. For the next 16 years, Fr Damien was priest, nurse, sheriff, teacher and father to the lepers of Molokai.

He contracted leprosy himself only ten years into this mission, and he didn’t live to celebrate his fiftieth birthday. But he was not forgotten. His heroic life of sacrifice has inspired generation after generation, and like St Francis, his appeal is universal.

By way of example:
Six months after the missionary’s death, the celebrity author Robert Louis Stephenson exalted Fr Damien in an open letter to Rev Charles McEwan Hyde. Rev Hyde, a Congregationalist minister in Hawaii, was one of Fr Damien’s critics, and had dismissed him in his own open letter to Rev Gage, his Presbyterian counterpart in Hawaii. Stephenson, a Presbyterian himself, was scathing:

If that world at all remember you, on the day when Damien of Molokai shall be named a Saint, it will be in virtue of one work: your letter to the Reverend H. B. Gage.

Ouch. Harsh, but true. Stephenson’s tract is an amazing piece of literature well worth reading.

Half a century later, Mahatma Gandhi invoked Fr Damien as an inspiration:
"The political and journalistic world can boast of very few heroes who compare with Father Damien of Molokai. It is worthwhile to look for the sources of such heroism".

Pope Benedict canonised Fr Damien in 2009, but he is also venerated as a saint in the Anglican Communion and by some Lutheran congregations.   His ecumenical and inter-faith appeal notwithstanding, Fr Damien was “Catholic to his bootstraps.” His first priority upon landing at Kalaupapa was to reserve the Blessed Sacrament, knowing that he would need Christ’s sacramental presence to sustain him in the rest of his work.

"Were it not for the constant presence of our Divine Master in our humble chapel, I would not have found it possible to persevere in sharing the lot of the afflicted of Molokai . . . Without the Blessed Sacrament a position like mine would be unbearable. But, having Our Lord at my side, I continue always to be happy and content". 
Amen.
Thanks to Fr. John at http://bit.ly/JtbJyk 

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No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Mozlink’ for any or all of the articles/images placed here. The placing of an article does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise. 

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St. Damien of Molokai

 On May 10, 2012, in Catholic Saint of the Day, by uCatholic
....
St. Damien of Molokai, or Father Damien as he is commonly known, was born Joseph de Veuster in Tremeloo, Belgium, on January 3, 1840. His father, a small farmer, sent him to a college at Braine-le-Comte, to prepare for a commercial profession; but as a result of a mission given by the Redemptorists in 1858, Joseph decided to become a religious. He entered the novitiate of the Fathers of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mary at Louvain, and took in religion the name of Damien. He was admitted to the religious profession, 7 Oct. 1860.

Three years later, though still in minor orders, he was sent to the mission of the Hawaiian Islands, where he arrived, 19 March, 1864. Ordained priest at Honolulu 24 May of the same year, he was later given charge of various districts on the island of Hawaii, and, animated with a burning zeal, his robust constitution allowed him to give full play to the impulses of his heart. He was not only the missionary of the natives, but also constructed several chapels with his own hands, both in Hawaii and in Molokai.

On the latter island there had grown up a leper settlement where the Government kept segregated all persons afflicted with the loathsome disease. The board of health supplied the unfortunates with food and clothing, but was unable in the beginning to provide them with either resident physicians or nurses.

On 10 May, 1873, Father Damien, at his own request and with the sanction of his bishop, arrived at the settlement as its resident priest. There were then 600 lepers. “As long as the lepers can care for themselves”, wrote the superintendent of the board of health to Bishop Maigret, “they are comparatively comfortable, but as soon as the dreadful disease renders them helpless, it would seem that even demons themselves would pity their condition and hasten their death.” For a long time, however, Father Damien was the only one to bring them the succour they so greatly needed. He not only administered the consolations of religion, but also rendered them such little medical service and bodily comforts as were within his power.

He dressed their ulcers, helped them erect their cottages, and went so far as to dig their graves and make their coffins. After twelve years of this heroic service he discovered in himself the first symptoms of the disease. This was in 1885. He nevertheless continued his charitable ministrations, being assisted at this period by two other priests and two lay brothers. Father Damien died peacefully on April 15, 1889, on Molokai after sixteen years of undaunted dedication. On October 11, 2009, Father Damien was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI in a ceremony at the Vatican, thus becoming Saint Damien.
Thanks to http://bit.ly/Jywnvp
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In an Age of Celebrities: A True Role Model for Graduates

Families gather this month for graduation ceremonies for sons and daughters entering the work force where jobs are scarce, debts are high and hope is waning. Today I am happy to report that many faithful fans around the globe celebrate a beloved role model for graduates, Damien De Veuster. This memorial beckons one to reflect on the life of one who answered the call to serve a cause greater than oneself, namely God and neighbor near or afar. In the words of Mahatma Gandhi who drew his inspiration from this humble man, "The political and journalistic world can boast of very few heroes who compare with Father Damien of Molokai. It is worthwhile to look for the sources of such heroism."

In a world more focused on material gain and personal status, let us highlight the fruits of spiritual growth and shared virtues. In an age of celebrities, Damien is a true "rock star." He devoted his life to climbing the rocky terrain of isolated villages to alleviate the plight of humanity struggling under the stars. For those graduating and searching for purpose, the life of this young man may inspire you to follow a similar path. Damien courageously dedicated himself to service of the then most "outcast" people in the world, those suffering from Hansen's Disease also known by the dreaded word "leprosy."

The "sources of such heroism" began with the teachings and prayer life in the De Veuster home. Damien was born in Belgium in 1840, the seventh of eight children in a practicing Catholic family. They were taught early to pray and read Holy Scripture together, to obey God's commandments and God's Will and to emulate the lives of saints. As a teenager Damien looked up to the 16th century Jesuit missionary priest St. Francis Xavier as his role model. Francis Xavier, in turn, was inspired by St. Francis of Assisi, the 13th century saint who was awakened to the human dignity of the outcasts in his community called "lepers." "And when I left them," St. Francis proclaimed, "what had seemed to me bitter was changed into sweetness of body and soul."

In 1863, Damien travelled by ship for 148 days to get to Hawaii where his mission took root. Was it Divine Providence that inspired him or the example set by others? Author Gavin Daws illustrates in his biography Holy Man that Father Damien's source of heroism was the influence of his family and faith. After his older brother Auguste who had first become a priest became ill, Damien wrote his parents of his decision to take his brother's place and go into a life of service with the simple words, "my turn."

Shortly after arriving in Honolulu in early 1864, the Church ordained the 23-year-old Damien as a priest. Immediately, he began utilizing his talents as a carpenter on the Big Island building churches and homes while caring for the poor and sick. Daws informs that Father Damien had a strong work ethic, carrying the heaviest logs and organizing community feasts. One could say, he was accepted by the Hawaiians because he demonstrated true "aloha spirit," a spirit of love, hopefulness and hospitality.

When all of the clergy gathered in Maui, Bishop Maigret asked for the first volunteer to go to Molokai to minister to the "leper colony." Damien put up his hand again responding,"my turn." He was warned not to touch the people and not to eat with them so not to catch the disease, but he chose to become one of them. Father Damien cleansed their wounds, fed them and prayed with them holding their hands and giving of his heart to touch their hearts. He let them know they were loved by man and by God.

Damien died in 1889 in Molokai and was canonized a saint on October 10, 2009. There are many documented miracles attributed to the intercession of St. Damien. Part of his remains are buried in the hallow grounds at St Philomena Church that he helped build and can be visited today. In 1987 our company AmericanTours International (ATI) organized the inaugural visit to Kalaupapa which was a deeply spiritual experience for all and is arguably one of the most beautiful places on earth.

For those inspired by Damien De Veuster, there are many modern day "outcasts" near and afar who need to be cared for and be respected with human dignity. The mentally disabled, abandoned elderly, suffering adults and children with AIDS are a few examples of "outcasts" in many communities. Graduates, there is plenty of "help wanted." Consider answering the call to serve, simply say "my turn" and become a hero, a role model and a saint too.
 By Noel Irwin Hentschel  http://huff.to/KXn3R2

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St. Damien of Molokai

Damien on his deathbed (1889)

In the year 1840, Joseph De Veuster was born in Belgium, to a large family who were farmers and merchants.  This was the future Father Damien.  When his oldest brother entered the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts, his father planned that Joseph should take charge of the family business. Joseph, however, decided to become a religious.  When he was nineteen he entered the novitiate in the same house as his brother. It was there that he took the name of Damien.

In 1863, Damien’s brother was supposed to leave for the mission in the Hawaiian Islands, but he became seriously ill. Since preparations for the voyage had already been made, Damien obtained permission from the Superior General to take his brother's place. He arrived in Honolulu on March 19th, 1864, where he was ordained to the priesthood the following May 21st. He immediately devoted himself as a travelling missionary on the island of Hawaii.

At that time, the Hawaiian Government decided on a very harsh measure which they thought would stop the spread of the dreaded disease of leprosy, or Hansen’s disease. It was decided that anyone who contracted this disease would be taken to the neighboring island of Molokai, where they would have to stay for the rest of their lives. The Catholic Church was deeply concerned about these abandoned lepers and the Bishop spoke to the priests about the problem. He didn’t want to send anyone "in the name of obedience," because he knew that whoever went would probably contract the disease. Four of the priests volunteered, and they would take turns visiting and ministering to the lepers. Fr. Damien was the first to leave, and at his own request and that of the lepers, he remained permanently on Molokai.

He brought hope to this place of despair. He became a source of consolation and encouragement for the lepers.  He became their pastor, the doctor of their souls and of their bodies, without any distinction of race or religion. He gave a voice to the voiceless, he built a community where the joy of being together and openness to the love of God gave people new reasons for living.  He saw the beauty and dignity of each person, no matter how deformed and grotesque their outward appearance.

After Father Damien contracted the disease in 1885, he was able to identify completely with them.  He spoke of "we lepers…" Father Damien was, above all, a witness of the love of God for His people. He got his strength from the Eucharist: "It is at the foot of the altar that we find the strength we need in our isolation..." He said that he was It is there that he found for himself and for others the support and the encouragement, the consolation and the hope, he could, with a deep faith, communicate to the lepers. All that made him "the happiest missionary in the world.”

Fr. Damian served for sixteen years among the lepers, and died on April 15th 1889.

O God, by whose grace thy servant St. Damien of Molokai, enkindled with the fire of thy love, became a burning and a shining light in thy Church: Grant that we also may be aflame with the spirit of love and discipline, and may ever walk before thee as children of light; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, liveth and reigneth, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Thanks to Atonement on Line http://bit.ly/KbuZ4U

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Apostle to the Lepers and the Protector of the Poor

Saint Damien of Molokia, born Joseph de Veuster  in Belgium, was a priest of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. His brother, who was in the same order was supposed to go to Hawaii, but had taken ill, so Damien who was still in seminary asked to take his place. He was sent to Hawaii where he was ordained. It was on a leper colony on the island of Molokai that Father Damien's holiness shone brightest. While on Molokai he ministered to the leper's medical and spiritual needs bringing joy and love to a people wrought with despair. He contracted leprosy, but despite his deteriorating health worked until his death.
Sanctus Damianus, ora pro nobis

(Thanks to http://bit.ly/JDqEF0 for this posting)

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St Damien Church Molokai Restored

St. Damian Church located top side on the island of Molokai, was destroyed by fire some years back has now been renovated and restored as seen in these videos.
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Pastor leaving Fairhaven for former leper colony in Hawaii

Rev. Patrick Killilea sscc leaving Fairhaven, Mass. for Molokai.
Photo: JOHN SLADEWSKI/The Standard-Times

FAIRHAVEN May10th 2012 — The Rev. Patrick Killilea (from Co. Galway, Ireland) always imagined he would live in the SouthCoast of Mass until the end of his career. Killilea, affectionately known as Father Pat among his parishioners, has spent the past 13 years in Fairhaven and has only had two assignments outside the area since he was ordained in 1969.

"I was always glad to come back home," Killilea said while sitting in the rectory conference room Tuesday.

But a trip to a former leper colony on Kalaupapa, Hawaii, in 2004, changed everything. Killilea, who is now 68 but "only admits to 48 publicly," couldn't imagine not returning.

"I just got a feeling during Mass there, completely out of the blue, that there was a calling for me to stay," he said. "I had never anticipated that level of flashbacks and excitement even for a year after I returned. It was a heavenly call from God to go back." Killilea had returned to Kalaupapa once before in 2006 as the parish's fill-in pastor for three months.  In July, Killilea will be leaving his post as pastor at the Sacred Heart Congregation's St. Mary Church on Main Street to return as the permanent pastor at the St. Francis Parish in Kalaupapa.

Most learn about leprosy's disfiguring effects in tales of biblical times. In previous eras, those with leprosy, also called Hansen's disease, were sent to secluded colonies in order to avoid infecting others. In Hawaii, the infected were sent to Kalaupapa, an isolated peninsula on the island of Molokai.  Today Hansen's disease, a bacterial infection that damages the skin, nerves, limbs and eyes, is treatable with antibiotics, saving patients from disfigurement. Because of this, Kalaupapa has not been used as a colony since 1969 and is now a national park. Fewer than 20 patients, most of them elderly, still live in Kalaupapa, along with national park workers.

"Some of the patients there have visible disfigurements but others received medicine in time and just look like you or me," Killilea said. "Now a big problem they face is that their immune system has been compromised so they are vulnerable to other diseases."  The island is also the spot where one of Killilea's role models, St. Damien, also a father for the Sacred Heart Congregation, first settled in 1873. Damien lived in Kalaupapa for 16 years caring for those with Hansen's disease until he succumbed to it himself.  "Now it's much different than in St. Damien's times," said Killilea. "The patients there chose to be there and are well taken care of, but it is still very isolated."

Sharp volcanic cliffs separate the Kalaupapa peninsula from more populated portions of the island of Molokai. Hiking to town would take up to two hours, and the peninsula is otherwise only accessible by a lone airstrip, which brings the peninsula supplies.  Killilea's passion for his future assignment is visible as he draws a map of the "shark-shaped island." He leans forward and speaks quickly as he describes the many mongooses he saw during his last visit to Kalaupapa.

The wildlife and year-round 80-degree weather are far from the only differences Killilea will experience once he moves.  "I don't expect to have many people in church, but I will help build morale," Killilea said. Kalaupapa is a low-income community, and most who grow up on Molokai eventually leave to seek more employment opportunities on other islands or in the mainland United States.  "I'll miss the sacramental celebrations like baptisms and weddings," he said. "But I won't miss shoveling the snow."

Killilea will, of course, also miss the people of Greater New Bedford, who have been his congregation for the past 13 years. And parishioner Charlie Murphy, a town selectman, will miss him, too.  "We won't know how much we miss him until he's gone," Murphy said. "But for years, it has been his dream to live in the land of Damien, so we're happy for him."  Killilea's leaving does not mean goodbye forever. In October, Murphy will lead a trip with 15 Fairhaven pilgrims to Hawaii to learn about the history of St. Damien's association with the island and, of course, to visit Killilea.  Referencing the Hawaiian word that means both goodbye and hello, Murphy vowed that Killilea's leaving "isn't farewell."  "It's aloha," he said.

By ARIEL WITTENBERG

awittenberg@s-t.com

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Priest to play role of Damien of Molokai

As Father Dan Brady talks about his upcoming portrayal of St. Damien of Molokai in three evening performances at St. Michael Church in Glen Allen, he quickly points out that he has long admired Damien who chose to evangelize to the lepers and eventually contracted leprosy himself.

The three performances will be on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, May 4, 5 and 6, at 7:30 p.m. in the sanctuary of the church to commemorate the 20th anniversary of St. Michael Parish. 

“Damien is one of three saints whose lives I would like to emulate,” Father Brady told The Catholic Virginian.  The other two saints are St. Francis of Assisi and St. Thomas More.

The one-man play “Fr. Damien of Molokai” is written by Aldyth Morris, former Editor-in-Chief of the University of Hawaii Press. The play is two acts with an intermission. The whole performance lasts a little less than two hours.

“I saw it on PBS in 1978 and it won the Peabody Award for PBS,” Father Brady said, adding the Peabody Award “is considered a somewhat prestigious honor.”  “It is very cleverly written,” he added. “It’s a brilliant script.”

The character of Damien and the script mean a lot to Father Brady who was ordained priest for the Diocese of Richmond in 1984. He entered priestly formation after working as a lawyer in his native New York.

“The last 22 words of the play summarize an important part of my attitude toward the priesthood,” Father Brady said. While Damien is the only character in the one-man play, he feels the audience will be captivated.

“There is dialogue with people you don’t see,” Father Brady explained. “There are times when he had to give a public confession to his religious superior who was on the main boat.

“Damien was still healthy and his superiors had asked him to leave the island voluntarily, but he was not going to yield.  He was going to stay there with his lepers no matter what.

“These scenes are pretty much documented by people who knew him or through his letters,” Father Brady continued.  One of the more poignant scenes, the priest feels, is the dialogue when Damien’s earthly remains are moved from Molokai to Belgium.  “I miss my lepers and that’s when he reflected on his past doubts and his worries,” Father Brady said.

Admission to the play is free, but there will be a free will offering, half of which will go to the St. Michael building campaign and the other half to the Archangel Fund which provides outreach to needy parishioners.
by Steve Neill of The Catholic Virginian

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Saint Damien, Saint Marianne and Molokai's mules

Molokai island today is still very quiet and comparatively undisturbed by tourism, in some ways more like unspoiled Hana, Maui in dramatic contrast to the Kanapalii side of Maui which is wall to wall hi-rise resorts. Hana, though quiet and relatively out of the way due to its’ LONG winding access road, has orchid farms, little roadside stands, a retreat center, lots of artists–and very strong aloha energy.
 Molokai is something else—probably based on its dark past as the repository for those hapless victims of Hansen’s Disease (leprosy) dumped, often perilously on its rocky shores in the 19th century. Molokai’s Father Damien was just canonized by Pope Benedict two years ago (deservedly for his fearless devotion to Hawaii’s ostracized lepers) — his simple small churches along our ride route yesterday stand as poignant testament to a pure Christian faith—And just today, even as we speak, we learned that in October 2012, Mother Marianne, who courageously volunteered in 1883 to come here on the remote desolate peninsula of Kalaupapa on Molokai to help him minister to the banished lepers, will also be sainted.

The Molokai saints’  gracious energy is not present in all the island’s current inhabitants, some of whom appear to have reversed the energy and want to ward off the outside world.

Today, starting out in pre-dawn darkness we ride our tandem only a dozen miles, but with a goodly 1500 foot climb up the mountain to the Molokai Mule Barn. The plan is one of us hikes one way down the 26 switchbacks 1,500 feet down the mountain to the isolated seaside site of the leper colony for a tour and the other rides the mule, then we trade going back up. Jim is opting for me to hike up and he’ll ride the mule–he says it will save my knees to ride the mule down instead of hiking. Hmm. Probably true, but suspicious!
 But, you know, Sweetheart that he is, once we are there and look at the trail (and the mules) he insists that I should honor my dramatic 20 mile emergency evacuation mule ride out of the Yangtze River tributary gorge with a round trip mule ride, and he’ll “Shanks mare” the roundtrip on foot. (It’s Scottish, dating from the eighteenth century. There was a verb, to shank or to shank it, meaning to go on foot. This is from standard English shank for the part of the leg from the knee to the ankle, which comes from Old English sceanca, the leg bone. This verb developed into shank’s naig or shank’s naigie (where the second words are local forms of nag, a horse) and later into shank’s mare. It was a wry joke: I haven’t got a horse of my own for the journey, so I’ll use Shank’s mare to get there, meaning I’ll go on my own two feet.)

Once down the 26 hairpin turns traversing the tallest sea cliffs in the world (and YES, mules do prefer the very edge) we recognize what truly heart rending isolation the victims of the near plague of leprosy, brought to the Hawaiian people by outsiders in 1840, suffered in this wild place until Father Damien arrived in 1873 as their angel. With his help, they built cottages, roads, a wharf, St. Philomena Church, a clinic and an orphanage for the children. Until he himself died of the disease 16 years later, he ministered, educated, tended the sick, built coffins and actually buried over 6,000 victims.

Sadder and wiser, we return to the steep climb, reunite with our tandem and into a rainstorm, to ride back down to Kaunakakai town for a genuine luau, a memorable sunset gathering of local musicians of all ages and sizes.

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