April 15
Saints of the Day

Blessed Damien of Molokai, Joseph de Veuster, 1840-1889

    A Belgium priest who cared for the lepers in Hawaii, and died of leprosy at Molokai working until the very end

    He entered the novitiate of the Fathers of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mary at Louvain, and took in religion the name of Damien

    When Hawaii became a state in 1960, it selected Damien as one of its two representatives in the Statuary Hall at the U.S. Capitol.

Born 3 January 1840 on the family farm at Tremeloo, Belgium

Died 15 April 1889 at Molokai, Hawaii from leprosy; buried next to Saint Philomena Church, Molokai, Hawaii; interred in the cathedral at Antwerp, Belgium in 1936

Venerated 1977 by Pope Paul VI  Beatified 3 June 1995 by Pope John Paul II

Additional Information

http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintjct.htm
http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/SaintOfDay/default.asp?id=1379
Heroes Every Child Should Know
Catholic Encyclopedia
Kalaupapa National Historial Park

Translate español | français | deutsch | italiano | português