

Do not worry about me in the least, for when one serves God, one is happy anywhere. - St. DamienHe began his work in his early twenties. His passion for serving the suffering and exiled people of Kalawao should be a model for today’s youth who have a rallying cry of “Be the Change.” This devoted servant of God easily adapted to his new environment in language and custom. Literally, using the simple practice of touching to endear him to the community of outcast who were deemed untouchable. He worked to save souls, but also served as an advocate for their human rights. While others retreated from personal contact with those afflicted with Hansen’s Disease and distanced themselves from sufferers emotionally, Fr. Damien embraced these poor souls. Even erecting his personal home above the cemetery where so many who perished were put to rest to remind him to pray for them.
The happiest missionary in the world - St. DamienFr. Damien found such inspiration from the book The Imitation of Christ and embraced mortification of the body as a gift. “With a priest like Damien, in whom belief was unaffectedly incarnate, faith was made physical. To mortify the body, to die to himself, to risk physical leprosy in order to cure moral leprosy - this was to be a good priest.” So, when the diagnosis came, he found a sense of solidarity with the people he had served. “If by misfortune your young, robust, zealous and charitable priest should be stolen away from you by death, no, no you would not be abandoned.” This was evidenced by the second miracle attributed to him that allowed him to be elevated to sainthood. A Hawaiian woman who visited his grave at Kalawao to pray for his intercession was cured of cancer -- which the Vatican verified as a miracle.
What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world remains, and is, immortal. - Albert PineSt. Damien is indeed immortalized in several ways as an ambassador of social justice, service, and human dignity. Helping to promote his story and works of mercy through pilgrimages and tours to Kalaupapa or donations to Damien and Marianne of Moloka’i Education Center or Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace where the remains of St. Marianne reside and a first-class relic of St. Damien. More than 8,000 souls died after being exiled to the peninsula at the base of the island of Moloka’i including Fr. Damien, before a cure for leprosy was ever discovered. Today there are 13 survivors who remain there and have “Ho’ohali’a” they shared from Ohana who talk story of how much the saints showed in word and deed how much they cared for the people they served. The peninsula is now a National Park that will allow visitors to truly walk in the footsteps of saints. The park experience really will create a visualization of the day in the life for the residents that will prompt reflection on issues of social justice and human dignity. Visit NPS.gov/kala. St. Augustine by the Sea parish on Oahu, just across from Waikiki Beach will become the site for the new Damien and Marianne of Moloka’i Education Center that will serve to educate visitors about the story of the people of Kalaupapa and the two saints who served them. This interactive experience will showcase many of the artifacts in physical and digital forms to inspire future generations as well as preserve the mōʻaukala. Visit DamienAndMarianne.org. Other ways that you can honor the legacy of St. Damien this month would be to read Holy Man Father Damien of Moloka’i by Gavan Daws or The Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis. Also, start a novena on October 11 in honor of his tenth anniversary of sainthood. Finally, learn more about his religious order, the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, and pray for the many works they are doing in the world. Hauʻoli lā hānau St. Damien!
Copyright 2019 Sherry Hayes-Peirce
About the Author

Sherry Hayes-Peirce
Sherry Hayes-Peirce is a Catholic social media influencer, digital media strategist, blogger, conference speaker, podcast guest, and contributing author of the Ave Prayer Book for Catholic Mothers. She serves as a lector at LMU Los Angeles. She is a parishioner at American Martyrs Catholic Community in Manhattan Beach, CA, serving as Lector, Eucharistic Minister, Bereavement Minister, Earth Angel, Sisterhood Team Ministry, Widows Ministry, and Adorer.
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