HCH photo by Anna Weaver
National Park Service worker Richard Miller (standing next to pillar), the masonry work leader of renovations at St. Philomena Church in Kalawao, explains to Oahu visitors the repairs being made to the historic church.
Announcement excitement comes to Kalaupapa
By Anna Weaver | Hawaii Catholic Herald
KALAUPAPA
The day after Damien’s canonization date was announced and a Mass celebrated on Oahu, a group of pilgrims flew into Kalaupapa, Feb. 22, for another thanksgiving celebration.
The regularly scheduled 9 a.m. Mass at St. Francis Church was busier than usual. In addition to eight Kalaupapa residents and other regular attendees, the 16 who braved the Molokai channel on two chartered planes from Honolulu included Audrey Toguchi, the woman whose cancer cure became the Vatican-approved miracle leading to Damien’s canonization.
Two television camera crews and a diocesan videographer added to the excitement.
Vicar general Father Marc Alexander celebrated the Mass. During his homily he said that the canonization date “for many of us, is long overdue.”
In the inevitable “countdown to canonization” flurry, Father Alexander said he hoped people won’t “forget what Father Damien was all about” or try to “sanitize” his image.
“He is someone who cannot be sanitized,” the vicar general said.
“Damien saw the face of Christ in every single person,” Father Alexander said. “He practiced radical selflessness.”
Local musician Glenn Medeiros performed “You Were Not Afraid,” one of three new Damien-inspired songs he has written. Sacred Hearts provincial Father Christopher Keahi blessed and distributed Damien medals.
After Mass, Norman Soares of Damien Tours took the visitors by bus around Kalaupapa and over to Kalawao.
They got a peek in St. Philomena Church, most of which Father Damien built, now undergoing renovation. Richard Miller of the national park service, who is heading up the work set to be completed by October 2009, pointed out the ceiling newly repainted in its original colors and exterior and interior changes that will be made.
During a bento lunch break at the Kalawao pavilion overlooking the ocean, Randy King of Seawind Tours and Travel offered a “first look” at the itinerary for the “Bishop’s Tour” to Belgium and Rome in October. (See page 5)
Resident Boogie Kahilihiwa says the announcement of the canonization date made him “really, really excited” and gave him “chicken skin.” He also repeated that he had said many times before, “We all knew he was a saint a long time ago.”
He and his wife Ivy plan to make the October trip. Kahilihiwa’s one big worry is, “I know it’s going to be cold. I’m going to need winter clothes.”
Toguchi, said that the highlight of the Bishop’s Tour will be visiting Damien’s homeland.
“I’ll be so excited to get to Father Damien’s grave,” she said. After learning about him since she was a child, “Now I’m going to be there.” The retired teacher and geography and history buff says she’s also looking forward to visiting Bruges.
By the time the visitors headed back to the Kalaupapa airstrip in the afternoon, the chilly, overcast day had brightened.
Jennifer Cerny, chief of cultural resource management for the National Parks Service at Kalaupapa, said that for the Kalaupapa patients who recently lost a number of long-time residents, including Richard Marks, Paul Harada and Kuulei Bell, this happy announcement about Damien brightened them up some.
“This helps bring some joy to this time,” she said. “They’ve been waiting so long for this to come to pass.”