The gala benefit dinner for a new church on Molokai will feature historic and artistic items related to Blessed Damien both for display and for sale.

“A Lei of Aloha for Father Damien — A Gala Dinner Event,” Friday, Sept. 8, at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Coral Ballroom, seeks to raise funds for Blessed Damien Church and raise awareness of Blessed Damien’s gift of compassion.

The event is being sponsored by the Molokai Catholic Community, the parish of topside Molokai, which seeks to replace the 60-year-old termite-ridden St. Sophia Church in the main town of Kaunakakai.

The evening’s theme “Lei of Aloha” was picked to represent the love, respect and honor the gift a lei bestows.

A display of historic photos and Damien museum pieces is intended to give attendees a renewed appreciation of Blessed Damien’s daily life and work in Kalawao, Molokai.

Among the “Damien memories” gala organizers have assembled for sale are art prints of the stained glass windows of Blessed Damien and Blessed Marianne at Our Lady Queen of Peace Cathedral in Honolulu, and a unique artist-designed line of Damien jewelry.

The jewelry, which includes several bracelets and a San Damiano crucifix, reflect the work of Blessed Damien and Blessed Marianne on Molokai.

The attractive bracelets are accompanied by printed descriptions of the significance of the material of which they are made, the designs, and a reflection about Blessed Damien or Blessed Marianne.

One event organizer said she wears the Damien bracelet daily “as a continuous reminder of his unconditional love and compassion, and of God’s calling to each of us to serve one another.”

One does not have to attend the event to purchase the Damien and Marianne prints and jewelry. For more information, call Maria Sullivan at (808) 553-5181, or send an e-mail message to mjs@aloha.net.

Gala tickets are still available. For more information and tickets, contact event chairwoman Illona Honig at (808) 553-4420, or email dreambeach@wave.hicv.net, Subject: Gala.