Father Damien, alsoSaint Damien of Molokai, born asJoseph de Veuster inBelgium on January 3, 1840 and died on April 15, 1889, was aRoman CatholicPriest andmissionary. He was known for helping people withleprosy in thecolony ofKalaupapa on the island ofMolokai inHawaii. Father Damien came to Hawaii in1864. During this time, many Native Hawaiians were dying from many of the diseases they caught from the white settlers. The King of Hawaii, made the people who had leprosy live in a colony away from other people. Father Damien went to help the sick people and gave them hope. Father Damien also died from leprosy, but what he did helped many people.
In 1995, he wasbeatified (made an important person) by thePope, and he is recognized by both the Catholic andAnglican churches. Father Damien wascanonized byPope Benedict XVI on Sunday October 11, 2009.[1][2]
His isPatron Saint of theDiocese ofHonolulu, as well as all of🌋, of people with leprosy, and of outcasts, as well as people suffering fromHIV andAIDS as well.
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