Father Damien’s sainthood: Here’s the complete TV and relic tour schedule

Oct 4, 2009

Sherie Char,

On Oct. 11, Father Damien de Veuster will become Hawaii’s first canonized saint.

The Catholic Church will officially recognize Hawaii’s beloved priest as a saint during a canonization ceremony in Saint Peter’s Square in Vatican City. During the Rome ceremony, Pope Benedict XVI will present Honolulu Bishop Larry Silva with a Damien relic—his right heel bone. (Another relic, Damien’s right hand, is buried outside St. Philomena Church in Kalawao, Molokai, on the Kalaupapa peninsula).

Throughout October, the relic will travel to Michigan, California and, finally, Hawaii.

Damien is most known for taking care of Hansen’s disease (leprosy) patients on remote Kalaupapa peninsula. His canonization comes 120 years after his death from the same disease that took the lives of 8,000 people in Hawaii. Today, he’s also known as the unofficial patron of those with HIV and AIDS.

Several Hawaii residents have already left the Islands for a pilgrimage to Damien’s birthplace in Belgium before traveling to Rome for the canonization.

If you can’t be in Rome on Sun., Oct. 11, you can watch a live broadcast of Damien’s canonization on television here in Hawaii. Rome is 12 hours ahead of Hawaii time, which means Damien’s canonization will take place on Saturday evening in Hawaii.

The live broadcast airs Sat., Oct. 10 at 10 p.m. (Hawaii time) on Hawaii television stations KGMB, KITV and KHON.

Hawaii Catholic parish and school groups will celebrate the historic event together in various parish halls or churches. For updates on locations and times, click here.

If you miss the live TV broadcast, the canonization will be replayed Oct. 11 at 7:30 a.m. (Hawaii time) on EWTN Digital Channel 408. The Damien documentary with replay at 1 p.m. on OC 16, followed by another replay of the ceremony.

UPDATE, 10/8/09: Not in Hawaii? We just learned that CatholicTV will air Damien’s canonization on Sun., Oct. 11 at noon and 8 p.m. (Eastern time).

In the weeks ahead, HawaiiMagazine.com will continue to post features about Damien—both on his life and life on the Kalaupapa peninsula today.

For now, on the following pages you’ll find the complete travel itinerary for Damien’s relic, as it is brought from Rome to Hawaii:

ROME

• Oct. 11: St. Peter’s Square (Rome, Italy)—10 a.m. (Rome time) Pope Benedict XVI presents the second relic of Father Damien to Bishop Larry Silva. Note: If you’re in Hawaii, tune in to Oceanic Cable OC 16 on Oct. 10 at 10 p.m. (Hawaii time)

• Oct. 12: Pontifical North American College (Rome)—Mass with members of Hawaii canonization tour.

MICHIGAN

• Oct. 13: Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament (Detroit)—Archdiocese of Detroit, Mich.; 7 p.m. Reception of relic; 7:30 p.m. vespers; 7:50 to 9 p.m. silent veneration.

• Oct. 14: Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament (Detroit)—7:15 a.m. Mass with Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron; 1 p.m. Scripture service for priests and religious (open to the public); 3 p.m. healing Mass, with the Anointing of the Sick; 7 p.m. Mass

CALIFORNIA

• Oct. 15: St. Mary’s Cathedral (San Francisco)—Evening veneration.

• Oct. 16: St. Joseph Basilica (Alameda)—Diocese of Oakland

OAHU

• Oct. 17: Relic arrives in Honolulu with Bishop Larry Silva. Departs for Kona at 3:09 p.m.

BIG ISLAND

• Oct. 17: Arrives in Kona at 3:52 p.m. accompanied by Sacred Hearts Father Lane Akiona and Randy King.

• Oct. 18: Immaculate Conception Church (Holuoloa)—8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Mass; healing prayer service with anointing of the sick; visitation.

St. Michael Church (Kailua‐Kona)—2 to 3:30 p.m. Public prayer service; 6 to 9 p.m. Spanish community celebration.

• Oct. 19: Our Lady of Lourdes Church (Honokaa)—8 a.m. Arrival; 8:30 a.m. Mass; 9:30 to 11 a.m. Public viewing.

Annunciation (Waimea)—5 to 9 p.m. Prayer service.

• Oct. 20: Sacred Heart (Hawi)—10 a.m. Motorcade meets relic at the top of the mountain and rides through town with a stop at the hospital; 11:30 a.m. Mass; 3 to 4 p.m. Youth and children hour; 5 p.m. Rosary and prayers with music; 7 p.m. Mass; 9 p.m. closing.

• Oct. 21: St. Anthony (Laupahoehoe)—8 to 10 a.m.

Sacred Heart (Naalehu) and Holy Rosary (Pahala)—1 to 3 p.m.

St. Theresa (Mountain View)—4 to 5:30 p.m.

Holy Rosary (Keaau)—6 to 8 p.m.

* Relic taken to Sacred Heart, Pahoa, for overnight stay.

• Oct. 22: Sacred Heart (Pahoa)—6 a.m. to noon

• Malia Puka O Kalani (Keaukaha)—1 to 4 p.m.

• Immaculate Heart of Mary (Papaikou)—6 p.m. arrival, 7 p.m. Mass with anointing of the sick.

* Relic stays overnight at Immaculate Heart of Mary.

• Oct. 23: St. Joseph (Hilo)—8 a.m. to 9 p.m.; 6 p.m. Vicariate Mass.

MAUI

• Oct. 24: Relic leaves Hilo at 8:28 a.m. Arrives in Kahului at 9:05 a.m.

St. Theresa (Kihei)—8 a.m. breakfast in parish hall; 9 a.m. exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in church; 9:10 a.m. rosary; 9:30 Tongan community and choir to sing songs of St. Damien; 9:50 a.m. benediction; 10 a.m. reception of the relic and Mass; 11 a.m. procession and veneration of the relic; 11:30 a.m. relic leaves for Christ the King.

Christ the King (Kahului)—Noon to 4 p.m.

St. Anthony (Wailuku)—5 to 9 p.m.

* Parishioners pick up the relic and drive it to Hana via the north route.

St. Mary (Hana)—11:30 p.m. welcoming, prayer and songs; midnight Mass; 1:30 a.m. Father Damien film, followed by kupuna’s recollection of 1996 relic visit; 3 a.m. vigil concludes with veneration

* Relic leaves at 3:15 a.m. via south route with brief stops at the missions of St. Peter, Puiki, St. Paul, Kipuhulo, and St. Joseph, Kaupu.

• Oct. 25: The relic arrives at Holy Rosary Church (Paia) at 6 a.m.

Holy Rosary (Paia)—7 a.m. outdoor reception of relic with hymn, lei, prayer and procession into the church; 7:30 a.m. Mass; 8:45 a.m. veneration, hymns and prayers; 9:15 a.m. reflection on Father Damien’s life; 9:45 a.m. reflection on the challenge of Damien; 10:15 a.m. intercessory prayers; 10:45 a.m. departure rite; 11 a.m. departure.

St. Joseph (Makawao)—Noon to 4 p.m.

Maui War Memorial Gym (Wailuku)—5 to 9 p.m. Maui vicariate celebration.

• Oct. 26: Holy Ghost (Kula)—7 to 11 a.m.

St. Ann (Waihee)—Noon, reception of the relic with hymn, lei, litany and procession; 12:30 p.m. veneration of the relic with hymns and prayers; 1 p.m. reflection on Damien’s life; 1:30 p.m. reflection on the challenge of Damien; 2 p.m. intercessory prayers and intentions; 2:30 p.m. Mass; 3:45 p.m. departure rite; 4 p.m. departure

Sacred Hearts (Kapalua)—5 p.m. relic arrives; 5:15 p.m. Sacred Hearts Society songs and novena; 5:45 p.m. Hawaiian choir songs and novena; 6:15 p.m. quiet veneration.

Maria Lanakila (Lahaina)—6:30 p.m. relic arrives; 7 p.m. Filipino Catholic Club songs and novena; 7:30 p.m. secular Franciscans songs and novena; 8 p.m. Spanish community songs and novena; 8:30 p.m. Tongan community songs and novena.

LANAI

• Oct. 27: The relic departs Lahaina by ferry for Lanai at 6:45 a.m., accompanied by deacons Wally Mitsui and Pat Constantino.

Manele Harbor—7 a.m. prayers and songs.

Sacred Hearts (Lanai City)—7:30 a.m. arrival of the relic, prayer, convoy to the church, ringing of bells, enthronement of the relic with praise songs; 10 a.m. anointing of the sick; 11:30 a.m. potluck lunch; 12 a.m. meditation and prayers; 6 p.m. Mass, program honoring St. Damien and vigil.

• Oct. 28: Sacred Hearts (Lanai City)—6:30 a.m. prayer in church, convoy to the airport, prayer and songs at the airport; 8:20 a.m. departure.

KAUAI

• Oct. 28: The relic arrives in Lihue via Honolulu at 11:32 a.m. accompanied by Deacon Wally Mitsui and Sacred Hearts Father Lane Akiona.

Immaculate Conception (Lihue)—7 p.m. prayer service, homily by Sacred Hearts Father Herman Gomes.

• Oct. 29: St. Catherine Church and School, Kapaa—8 a.m. Mass, homily by Father Gomes.

St. Theresa Church and School (Kekaha)—11 a.m. Mass, homily by Father Gomes.

Holy Cross (Kalaheo)—3 p.m. prayer service, homily by Father Gomes.

St. Raphael (Koloa)—6:30 p.m. prayer service, homily by Father Gomes.

• Oct. 30: The relic leaves Lihue at 6:44 a.m. for Molokai.

MOLOKAI

• Oct. 30: Hoolehua Airport—9:20 a.m. relic arrives via Honolulu with Bishop Larry Silva (pictured left); caravan of California bishops and others accompany relic to Our Lady of Seven Sorrows (Kaluaaha); 12:30 p.m. Mass.

St. Joseph (Kamalo)—3 p.m. prayer service.

St. Sophia (Kaunakakai)—6 p.m. procession to Kaunakakai Ball Field; interfaith prayer and music service; procession back to St. Sophia; personal prayer and devotion.

• Oct. 31: Top of Kalaupapa trail—7 a.m. Sacred Hearts Father Clyde Guerreiro, Molokai youth and Damien Memorial School students carry relic down the trail.

Kalaupapa—9 a.m. relic greeted by National Park Service. A private ceremony will be held in Kalaupapa and Kalawao.

OAHU

• Nov. 1: Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace (downtown Honolulu)—Noon, Mass with Bishop Larry Silva.

Iolani Palace (Honolulu)—2 p.m. Interfaith civic ceremony with relic; speakers include Bishop Silva, Gov. Linda Lingle, Lt. Gov. James Aiona and religious leaders.

* After the ceremony, the relic will be carried back to the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace where it will remain permanently. Fun fact: Damien was ordained at this cathedral in 1864.

OAHU CATHEDRAL PILGRIM DAYS

A day is reserved for each Oahu vicariate to come to the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace to venerate the relic.