Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 6, Number 4, 1 April 1989 — Events Week Honors Father Damien [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Events Week Honors Father Damien

In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the death of Father Joseph Damien DeVeuster, the leper priest of Moloka'i, a series of events and activities have been planned on the different islands. They culminate in Damien Week, observed Apnl 7-16. Irene Letoto, a board member of the Hansen's Disease Association of Hawaii and chair of the Damien Week committee, sciid that it is part of a year-long observance of the life of Damien, who died April 15, 1889 at Kalaupapa, Moloka'i. The first event was the rededication in October 1988 of Damien's Siloama Church, whieh had been renovated. Damien Week will begin on O'ahu April 7-11 with an exhibit of photographs and artifacts from the Damien Museum at Ala Moana shopping center. On April 14 there will be a parade from Thomas Square along Beretania St. to the state Capitol and a ceremony and speeches at the statue of Father Damien. That evening there will be a banquet at the Sheraton Waikiki, and Mother Teresa of lndia will be the keynote speaker. Also attending the banquet will be the heir to the Belgian throne, Prince Philip. On April 15 there will be a mass at St. Philomena Church, Moloka'i, with Bishop Joseph Ferrario as main celebrant. The church wasrebuilt by Damien in 1876 and recently restored. That evening there will be a ho'olaulea tribute to Father Damien at the Waikiki Shell, beginning at 7 p.m. It is a fundraiser for Mother Teresa and other beneficiaries, said Letoto. Sponsor is the Damien Museum. On Apnl 16 there will be a special service at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Seven Sorrows Church at Kaluaaha, Moloka'i. A noon pa'ina (luneh) will follow. This church and St. Joseph Church at Kamalo are the remaining two of four churches designed and built by Father Damien in the 1870s.

Letoto will also take the photographic exhibit to the Kaunakakai Library, Moloka'i from April 1921. On May 4 a delegation from Hawaii will go to Belgium to participate in a walk to raise funds for international Hansen's disease work. Then in September, Hawai'i will send a float to a historical pageant in Belgium on the life of Father Damien.

This marker outside St. Philomena Church, Kalawao, Moloka'i marks the grave of Father Damien. His remains were disinterred several years ago and returned to Belgium.

On April 14 there will be a ceremony at the Statue of Father Damien at the State Capitol.

Memorial to Father Oamien in Kaiaupapa.