St. Damien of Molokai

St. Damien de Veuster, The Leper Priest, the Hero of Molokai, was born in Tremelo, Belgium, on January 3, 1840. He joined the Sacred Hearts Fathers in 1860, and in 1864 was sent to Honolulu, Hawaii, where he was ordained.  

For the next nine years he worked in missions on the big island, Hawaii. In 1873, he went to the leper colony on Molokai, after volunteering for the assignment. Damien cared for lepers of all ages, but was particularly concerned about the children segregated in the colony.

In 1885 he that announced he was a leper, but he continued to build hospitals, clinics, and churches, and coffins. He died on April 15, 1889, on Molokai.

He was declared venerable in 1977. Pope John Paul II declared him beatified on June 4, 1995. He was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on October 11, 2009. His Feast Day is May 10.