By Patrick Downes | Hawaii Catholic Herald

More than 350 Americans will travel to Rome to attend the Beatification of Mother Marianne of Molokai.

Hawaii is sending more than 40 people through two scheduled tours. The Franciscans and the Diocese of Syracuse, N.Y., are sending around 300, 18 of whom are Sisters of St. Francis serving in Hawaii.

In addition, an already scheduled pilgrimage of 19 Star of the Sea, Waialae-Kahala, parishioners plan to attend the beatification while in Rome. A few others are going on their own.

Seawind Tours and Travel on Honolulu is taking 24 lay people, 14 of whom are part of the choir that will sing during a program before the beatification Mass. They leave Hawaii on May 10 and return on May 18.

A second tour from Hawaii, filled with 18 Franciscans associates, friends and relatives of the Franciscan Sisters, leaves from Kauai, May 11 and returns May 20. The Kauai tour is being arranged by Franciscan Sister Florence Remata.

The largest tour is leaving from Syracuse, the Mother Marianne’s home diocese and the location of the motherhouse of the Sister of St. Francis.

Franciscan Sister Angelle Ching is arranging a group of about 90 members of her congregation plus associates, employees and friends. Forty will leave from NewarkAirport and the rest from JohnF.KennedyAirport in New York.

A separate pilgrimage to Italy and Medjugorje in Bosnia-Herzegovina arranged by Ed Lum of Star of the Sea Parish happened to coincide with the beatification. According to Lum, 19 from Hawaii will meet three more from the mainland for a tour of sites in Italy and a side trip to Medjugorje, the site of alleged apparitions of the Blessed Mother. They plan to be in Rome for the beatification.

The Diocese of Syracuse is sending another group, which will include the Bishop of Syracuse James Moynihan.

According to Sister Angelle, the young woman cured of multiple organ failure, the miracle which led to Mother Marianne’s beatification, will be there with two members of her family and her best friend. One of the doctors involved in her case may also attend.

At least one patient from Kalaupapa, Winnie Harada, plans to attend.

Eighteen of the 46 Sisters of St. Francis who serve in Hawaii are going. According to regional administrator Sister William Marie Eleniki, more would have attended but have previous commitments in the schools and hospitals where they work.