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Famous image of Blessed Damien
de Veuster, now a Saint |
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October
12, 2009 - Hawaii
Saint
Damien de Veuster, Belgian missionary
turned iconic Catholic priest who
devoted himself to serving the discarded
leprosy patients on the island of
Molokai, was canonized on this past
weekend.
The highly anticipated canonization
took place in Rome over the weekend.
Many island churches honored the occasion
with special masses
When arriving in Hawaii, Damien was
first assigned to the Big Island,
where he built churches and labored
as a young missionary in Puna and
later in Kohala.
"When Father Damien arrived in
Puna, there were no churches, not
even a house to live in." writes
Father Louis H. Yim of the Hawaii
Catholic Herald. "A simple dwelling
was quickly put up and in a matter
of days the young priest was building
two churches in the district."
Damien would go on to build four or
five chapels of the "native thatched
hut-variety." He reportedly performed
over 100 baptisms in 6 months.
Saint Damien also worked hard spreading
the Catholic faith in Norh Kohala
and Hamakua.
Following the Christian catacomb practice
of passing a relic in veneration of
the saint, a part of St. Damien -
a bone from his foot - will be given
to the Catholics of Hawaii for custody.
Pope Benedict XVI presented the relic
to Bishop Larry Silva during the Belgian
missionarys canonization on Oct.
11 in Rome. It will now cross the
Atlantic, pause in a few cities in
North America and continue to Hawaii
for a tour of the islands, a visit
to Iolani Palace and a final stop
in the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace
in Honolulu.
The relic is also scheduled to stop
at many points on the Big Island.
The timetable, according to the church's
official Father Damien website:
Arrives
in Kona at 3:52 p.m. accompanied
by Sacred Hearts Father Lane Akiona
and Randy King.
South Kona Community: 5-9 p.m.
Sunday, October 18
Immaculate Conception Church, Holuoloa:
8 a.m.-1 p.m.
Mass; healing prayer service with
anointing of the sick; visitation.
St. Michael Church, Kailua-Kona:
2-3:30 p.m. public prayer service;
6-9 p.m. Spanish community celebration.
Monday, October 19
Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Honokaa:
8 a.m. arrival; 8:30 a.m. Mass;
9:30-11 a.m. public viewing.
Annunciation, Waimea: 5-9 p.m.
prayer service.
Tuesday, October 20
Sacred Heart, Hawi: 10 a.m. motorcade
meets relic at the top of the mountain
and rides through town with a stop
at the hospital; 11:30 a.m. Mass;
3-4 p.m. youth and children hour;
5 p.m. rosary and prayers with music;
7 p.m. Mass; 9 p.m. closing
Wednesday, October 21
St. Anthony, Laupahoehoe: 8-10
a.m.
Sacred Heart, Naalehu, and Holy
Rosary, Pahala: 1-3 p.m.
St. Theresa, Mountain View: 4]5:30
p.m.
Holy Rosary, Keaau: 6-8 p.m.
Relic taken to Sacred Heart, Pahoa,
for overnight stay.
Thursday, Oct. 22
Sacred Heart, Pahoa: 6 a.m.-noon
Malia Puka O Kalani, Keaukaha: 1-4
p.m.
Immaculate Heart of Mary, Papaikou:
6 p.m. arrival, 7 p.m. Mass with
anointing of the sick
Relic stays overnight at Immaculate
Heart of Mary.
Friday, Oct. 23
St. Joseph, Hilo: 8 a.m.-9 p.m.;
6 p.m. Vicariate Mass
Saturday, October 24
Relic leaves Hilo on an 8:28 a.m.
flight to Maui. Arrives in Kahului
at 9:05 a.m.
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