On May 21, 1864, Father Damien De Veuster was ordained in Hawaii. He is better known as St. Damien of Molokai.
Born in Belgium January 3, 1840, he had traveled to Hawai'i to be a missionary. In 1873, he volunteered to minister to the lepers at Molokai. He established a parish, built a church, and set about to improve condition in the colony. He built a reservoir, built homes and furniture, made coffins, and dug graves. He taught, painted houses, organized farms, took care of his parishioners' wounds, and identified and encouraged leaders in the community.
In 1884, he discovered he had contracted leprosy. He continued to serve the people of the colony until his death of the disease April 15, 1889.
Pax et bonum
No comments:
Post a Comment