What is Father Damien?
[[File:Father_Damien,_photograph_by_William_Brigham.jpg|thumb|Father Damien, about 1888]] '''Father Damien''', also '''Saint Damien of Molokai''', born as '''Joseph de Veuster''' in [[Belgium]] on January 3, 1840 and died on April 15, 1889, was a [[Roman Catholic]] [[Priest]] and [[missionary]]. He was known for helping people with [[leprosy]] in the [[colony]] of [[Kalaupapa]] on the island of [[Molokai]] in [[Hawaii]]. Father Damien came to Hawaii in [[1864]]. During this time, many Native Hawaiians were dying from many of the diseases they caught from the white settlers. The King of Hawaii, made the people who had leprosy live in a colony away from other people. Father Damien went to help the sick people and gave them hope. Father Damien also died from leprosy, but what he did helped many people. In 1995, he was [[beatified]] (made an important person) by the [[Pope]], and he is recognized by both the Catholic and [[Anglican]] churches. Father Damien was [[Canonization|canonized]] by [[Pope Benedict XVI]] on Sunday October 11, 2009.<ref name=CNA>{{cite web |url=http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/apostle_of_the_lepers_spanish_mystic_among_10_to_be_canonized/ |title='Apostle of the Lepers,' Spanish mystic among 10 to be canonized|work= Catholic News Agency |publisher=www.catholicnewsagency.com |accessdate=2010-07-21 }}</ref><ref name=VR>{{cite web |url=http://storico.radiovaticana.org/en1/storico/2009-10/324616_pope_proclaims_five_new_saints.html |title=Pope Proclaims Five New Saints |publisher=Radio Vaticana |accessdate=2010-07-21 }}</ref> His is [[patronage|Patron Saint]] of the [[Diocese]] of [[Honolulu]], as well as all of [[🌋]], of people with leprosy, and of outcasts, as well as people suffering from [[HIV]] and [[AIDS]] as well. ==References== {{commonscat|Father Damien}} {{reflist}} {{US-bio-stub}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Damien}} [[Category:1840 births]] [[Category:1889 deaths]] [[Category:Belgian Roman Catholic priests]] [[Category:Christian saints]] [[Category:People from Hawaii]] [[Category:Roman