April 15, 1889 - Father Damien

 “Father Damien statue, U.S. Capitol Statuary Hall.” Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Father Damien, a Roman Catholic priest, was born in Belgium and joined the missionary order known as the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. He travelled to Hawaii as a missionary priest where he served on the isolated leper colony on the island of Molokai. The colony at Kalaupapa on Molokai housed people with leprosy who were isolated from society. Initially, the colony lacked proper sanitation, medical care, and housing, but Father Damien arrived in 1873, helping to build homes and churches, establish schools, and care for the sick and dying. He lived among the patients for years, and ultimately contracted leprosy in 1884. In spite of his declining health, he continued to minister to the colony until his death on April 15, 1889. Because of his compassion, Father Damien was highly respected in Hawaii and around the world. In 2009, he was canonized as Pope Benedict XVI. Now, the statue that represents Hawaii in the National Statuary Hall honors his service and sacrifice.

In today’s world, sacrificial service seems to be increasingly rare. Father Damien’s example is a refreshing reminder of the beauty of sacrificial service. He responded to the Biblical call to care for the poor, sick, and forgotten as he lived amongst those outcast by society. This is a clear reflection of Jesus’ ministry to those rejected by society. Although he lost his life to the service he so selflessly dedicated himself to, his story is a reminder of how God uses those who are willing to lay themselves aside for the sake of obedience.