Bishop Larry Silva is convening on Jan. 18 the first meeting of the Father Damien/Mother Marianne Commission, a new group he wants to promote devotion to, and the canonization of, the two beatified missionaries to the leprosy patients of Kalaupapa a century ago.

Invitations to join the commission were sent out last week to eight people, including representatives from the Sacred Hearts Congregation and the Sisters of the St. Francis, the religious communities of Father Damien DeVeuster and Mother Marianne Cope respectively.

Among the purposes of the commission are:

-- Promoting the canonization of Blessed Damien and Blessed Marianne;

-- Renewing the spirituality of Hawaii Catholics through their example;

-- Revitalizing a commitment to serve Hawaii’s most needy and poor;

-- Developing Damien and Marianne-related pilgrimages, particularly to Kalaupapa;

-- Preserving a long-range Catholic presence at Kalaupapa.

“I see the Commission as an idea-generating group whose work will unfold gradually but effectively,” Bishop Silva wrote in his letter.

“Promoting a person’s cause for sainthood is much more than having the person enshrined in a sort of Catholic Hall of Fame,” he said. “The process should help us all to be more holy.”