Oct 10, 2009 (The Honolulu Advertiser – McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) – KALAUPAPA, Moloka’i — The Hansen’s disease settlement on this rugged-but-spectacular Moloka’i peninsula is even quieter than usual this weekend, with all but four of the remaining patients in Rome to witness Father Damien’s rise to Catholic sainthood.
“Very quiet,” said patient Katherine Costales, 79, who flew back to her home in Kalaupapa yesterday after a doctor’s visit in Honolulu. “Yes, it’s very, very quiet.” But the work of Father Damien to turn an ill-equipped Hansen’s disease outpost once called a “Living Tomb” into a place of humanity worthy of a saint is never far away, especially this weekend.
“It’s an honor to be able to walk where he walked,” Costales said. “I feel honored and I feel loved. Through Father Damien, we were saved.” Scott Wallace specifically coordinated a sailboat trip around the Islands from his home in Hale’iwa with five friends so that he could tie up his catamaran Nefarious yesterday near the same spot where hundreds of frightened children and other Hansen’s disease outcasts were abandoned — beginning in 1866 — and had to fight through pounding surf just to get to shore.
And once there, they had to start a new life.
As soon as the Nefarious made its way from Lahaina into ‘Awahua Bay near the settlement yesterday, “You could feel a special power,” Wallace said. “There was a sense of something very sacred. A whole hush fell over the boat and everyone stopped talking. It’s very humbling to be here.” None of the men in the group is particularly religious, or even Catholic.
But they all feel as if they are in the right spot this weekend.
“It was an opportunity to see a very special place during a very special time,” said Ray Beatty, the captain of the Nefarious.
In just a few hours of touring the settlement and nearby Kalawao, where Damien first ministered to patients in 1873, the men were already feeling the power of Damien’s work.
“It makes you think about everything,” said Skip Walsh, one of the boat’s crew.
Wallace added, “The sacrifices he made makes us think about how little we do every day.” There will be a small Catholic service tomorrow morning in Kalaupapa’s St. Francis Church that will bring together the entire Kalaupapa community: Hansen’s disease patients who belong to the Catholic Church, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Universal Church of Christ; and a handful of state Health Department workers and National Park Service rangers who will be on duty.
But even today’s 10 p.m. live broadcast of Father Damien’s canonization from Saint Peter’s Square in Rome is likely to be too late in the day for the aging Hansen’s disease patients who live in Kalaupapa, said Tim Trainer, the chief ranger of Kalaupapa National Historical Park.
With 11 patients in Rome, four patients remain on Kalaupapa this weekend, meaning today’s regularly scheduled volleyball game might be less spirited than usual, Trainer said.
Yesterday, Trainer stood atop the rim of a crater that overlooks the Kalaupapa settlement and said, “It’s usually pretty quiet around here anyway. Even more so this weekend.” But more tourists are scheduled to visit this morning, to be at a special place where a man who will be a saint ministered to those without hope more than a century ago.
“It’s difficult to grasp the scope of man’s inhumanity to man,” Wallace said. “We basically discarded them (Hansen’s patients) as humans. But what Father Damien did here transcends religion. It transcends all religions.” canonization Events Hawai’i will mark Father Damien’s canonization through a number of events tomorrow and Sunday, including: TODAY Broadcast premiere of “The Story of Saint Damien of Moloka’i, Sacred Hearts Priest”: 9 p.m. Oceanic Cable, OC 16 St. Sophia’s Church, 115 Ala Malama in Kaunakakai, Moloka’i, and Damien Museum (next door to St. Sophia’s Church) –6 p.m. Mass and Damien Novena with potluck dinner to follow.
–8 p.m. Entertainment –10 p.m. TV viewing in Moloka’i Catholic Church and Damien Museum of live broadcast of Father Damien’s canonization in Rome.
St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, 2324 Omilio Lane, Kalihi –8 p.m. Food and fellowship prayer service.
St. Philomena Parish, 3300 Ala Laulani St.
–7 p.m. Potluck dinner under the tent at the front of the church. The parish will provide paper plates, hot coffee, water and lemonade. Guests may bring dishes to share.
–8:30 p.m. Holy hour and personal reflections on Father Damien.
–10 p.m. TV viewing of live broadcast of Father Damien’s canonization in Rome.
Blessed Sacrament Parish, 2124 Pauoa Road: –9 a.m.-2 p.m. Garage sale, food booth, entertainment, –5 p.m. Holy Eucharist, potluck dinner.
–9 p.m. TV viewing of documentary on Father Damien.
–10 p.m. TV viewing of live broadcast of Father Damien’s canonization in Rome.
St. John Apostle & Evangelist, Mililani –5 p.m. Mass celebration.
–5-6:30 p.m. The Daughters of St. Paul Book Sale, where books about St. Damien will be for sale.
–9-10 p.m. Video documentary on Father Damien made by a local film company under the direction of Venny Villapando, a member of the diocesan Father Damien/Mother Marianne Commission.
TOMORROW “The Story of Saint Damien of Moloka’i, Sacred Hearts Priest” –1-2 p.m. Replay, Oceanic Cable, OC 16.
–Noon: Mass.
St. Stephen Church, 2747 Pali Highway –9 a.m. Holy Eucharist.
–Replay of “The Story of Saint Damien of Moloka’i, Sacred Hearts Priest.” –10 a.m.-2 p.m. Plate lunch sale, bake sale, country store, wine tasting.
St. John Apostle & Evangelist, Mililani After all Masses, The Daughters of St. Paul Book Sale will offer books about St. Damien for sale.
Reach Dan Nakaso at dnakaso@honoluluadvertiser.com.
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