Joseph De Veuster "Father Damien"
Father Damien was born on January 3rd 1840 in Belgium. Father Damien's real name was Joseph de Veuster. He moved to Molokai in 1872 as a substitute for his brother who was actually the one who was suppose to come to Moloka'i to minister, it was by chance that Father Damien came to the islands.
During the 1800's, people in Hawaii with leprosy were called lepers. Lepers were dropped off by boat on the far side of the Kalaupapa Peninsula in an area called Kalawao. Boats would sail to the reef, lepers were thrown overboard with a cage that had contained them on board the ship and a barrel with their box of possessions and food. The people on board waited because if any of the lepers tried to get back on board, the crew would shoot them.
Before Father Damien came to Molokai, the leper colony lived in a place where there were no resources nor food readily available. The people with leprosy were acting like animals because they would have to hunt for their food and they often kill each other for clothing and food. When Father Damien came to Molokai, he moved the leper colony to the other side of the cliff, to Kalaupapa. Father Damien moved the leper colony because it was more civilized there at Kalaupapa, there were calm waters, and there was a Hawaiian village with people who could help the lepers regain their sense of humanity.
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Father Damien nursed all the lepers on Molokai. He built homes, churches, and coffins for them. Joseph De Veuster, Father Damien built four churches and two of these churches still remain, "St. Joseph's" and "My Lady of Sorrows". Father Damien became an important figure in the leper colony. Did you know that out of 1,100 volunteers who helped the lepers, only Father Damien caught leprosy, or Hansen's Disease? Leprosy, Hansen Disease is actually one of the least contagious diseases. Father Damien caught this disease in 1882; he started to feel pain in his leg and then was having nerve problems. Even though Father Damien had the disease he lived with the disease for 7 years, before dying on April 15, 1889. His body was buried on Moloka'i, which was his wish, then the government of Europe wanted Father Damien buried in Europe so he was then transferred to his home country. |
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