Saint Damien the Leper Priest

[louislestat]

Saint Damien of Molokai, January 3, 1840 – April 15, 1889 was a Roman Catholic priest from Belgium. He won recognition for his ministry to people with leprosy who had been placed under a government-sanctioned medical quarantine on the island of Molokai in the Hawaii. After sixteen years caring for the physical, spiritual and emotional needs of those in the leper colony, he contracted and died of the disease. Damien is considered the spiritual patron for Hansen's disease, HIV and AIDS patients, and outcasts. He is also the patron saint of the Diocese of Honolulu and of Hawaii.

Father Damien was portrayed in 1980 by Ken Howard in the television film Father Damien: Leper Priest.
In 2000 Belgian film producer Tharsi Vanhuysse was inspired to lead a project honoring the famous priest Molokai: The Story of Father Damien. David Wenham was chosen to play the lead; it also starred Derek Jacobi, Kris Kristofferson, Sam Neill, Tom Wilkinson Chris Haywood, and Peter O'Toole.

Father Damien was canonized on October 11, 2009, by Pope Benedict XVI. His feast Day is celebrated on May 10. Belgium's King Albert and Queen Paola attended the ceremony in St. Peter's. In a recent survey in his homeland Damien was voted most popular Belgian of all time

U.S. president Obama said in a statement that Damien had "a special place in the hearts of Hawaiians, I recall many stories from my youth about his tireless work there to care for those suffering from leprosy who had been cast out," Obama said, adding that the priest had "challenged the stigmatizing effects" of the disfiguring disease.
"In our own time as millions around the world suffer from disease, especially the pandemic of HIV/AIDS, we should draw on the example of Fr. Damien's resolve in answering the urgent call to heal and care for the sick,"

[PeterMcK]

St Damien, OPN....

[jerryp]

I seem to remember a relative talking about a film about him too, in the 50's or 60's , I reckon.