St Damian of Molokai

St Damian of Molokai

Yesterday, 10 May, was the feast of St Damian of Molokai, who was canonised by Pope Benedict on 11 October 2009. Fr Damien (Joseph) De Veuster, born 1840 in Tremeloo, Belgium. He joined the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts volunteering for the mission to the Hawaiian Islands. In 1873 he went to work as a priest in a leper colony on the island of Molokai. He died from leprosy in 1889 aged 49.

The testimony of the life he lived among the lepers of Molokai led to an intensive study of Hansens disease, eventually leading to a cure. Pope John Paul II beatified Damien in 1995. He was named a saint by Pope Benedict on 11 October 2009.

Many thanks to Fr Eamon Aylward for reminding us about the feastday and sending this information.

For more information go to: http://leperpriest.blogspot.com/

See our earlier story on ICN: www.indcatholicnews.com/news.php?viewStory=14944