Father Damien

Biography• Real name: Jozef De Veuster• ° 3 January 1840 in Tremelo (near Leuven)• 7 October 1860Picpus Brother • 21 May 1864ordained to the priesthood • 15th April 1889 on Molokai• 1936 His body was brought to Belgium and

buried in Sint-Antonius Church in Leuven• June 1995 remains of right hand returned

to Molokai

Life in Hawaii

• 19 March 1864 landed at Honolulu (capital of Hawaii)

• 10 May 1873 arrived on Molokai where the lepers lived

Life on Molokai

• The first volunteer to go to Molokai• Got more funds for the island better living

standard for lepers• Built: 2 villages (with solid houses), school,

church, hospital,… • Jobs: Carpenter, Priest, Major,…• December 1884 leper was diagnosed• Refused to return to mainland

Canonization

• 4 June 1995Pope John Paul II gave him his official spiritual title of Blessed

• 11 October 2009 Pope Benedict XVI canonized him

• Two miracles have been attributed to Father Damien

• Patronage: people with leprosy

After death

• 2005 greatest Belgian of all time• Statues in Leuven, Tremelo, Scherpenheuvel

and Washington • There are movies about his life

Leprosy

• Caused by a bacteria• Skin lesions are the primary external sign• Believed to be highly contagious and sexually

transmittable ( 4th stage of Syphilis), but incorrect !!!!

• These days it can be healed• Left untreated can cause permanent damage

to the skin, nerves, limbs and eyes and leads to death

Damiaanactie/Damien Action

• Organisation named after him• Founded in 1964 in Brussels• Fights leprosy and tuberculosis• Active in America, Africa and Asia• Most important countries: India, China, DR

Congo and Bangladesh• Funds: Donations and selling of mostly pens