KŌKUA: HELP, HELPER. Although Saint Damien and Saint Marianne are world renown for their examples of compassion, faith and service, many others also came to Kalaupapa to kōkua. Some were relatives and some were strangers. One man was named Ira Barnes Dutton, a veteran of the Civil War who decided to devote his life to [...]
Molokai History: (From "Father Damien's Letters", Congregation of the Sacred Hearts SS.CC., Rome, 2017) From a letter from Father Damien to Father Gabriel Germain ss.cc., procurator of the Congregation, from Kalawao, March 1876: The gifts received last year for the leprosarium have been used in great part to cover the costs of a beautiful chapel, [...]
Molokai History: (taken from "Father Damien's Letters", Congregation of the Sacred Hearts SS.CC., Rome, 2017) From a letter from Father Damien to Father Marcellin Bousquet, ss.cc., Superior General of the Sacred Hearts, from Molokai Hospital, December 17, 1874: Father Andre has spent 4 months in the leper colony while I was building him a chapel [...]
Molokai History: (taken from "Father Damien's Letters", by Congregation of the Sacred Hearts, Rome, 2017) From a letter from Fr. Damien to his superior, Fr. Modeste Favens, ss.cc., from Kaluaaha, June 14, 1874. Our work in Kaluaaha is advancing; in two weeks, there won't be many nails left to pound into place. Then comes the [...]
Molokai History: (from "Father Damien's Letters", published by the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts, Rome, 2017) From a letter from Fr. Damien to his superior, Fr. Modeste Favens, ss.cc., April 19, 1874 from Kaluaaha: Father Andre will take charge of the leprosarium while I work in his district. I hope that the boat will continue [...]
Molokai History: (from "History of the Catholic Mission to Hawaii" by Fr. Reginald Yzendoorn, SS.CC., Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Ltd., Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii, 1927) Father Damien gives the following description of the settlement at the time of his arrival, in an official report which he addressed to the President of the Board of Health in March, [...]
Molokai History: (from "Pioneers of the Faith: History of the Catholic Mission in Hawaii (1827-1940)" by Robert Schoofs, SS.CC., Sturgis Printing Company, Inc., Honolulu, HI, 1978) (continued from May 18th) Also in Kaunakakai Father Thomas accommodated with the occasional celebration of Holy Mass the score of Catholics of this then tiny and unimportant village. Pukoo [...]
Molokai History: (from "Pioneers of the Faith: History of the Catholic Mission in Hawaii (1827-1940)" by Robert Schoofs, SS.CC., Sturgis Printing Company, Inc., Honolulu, HI, 1978) (continued from May 17th) At Kaunakakai, Father Thomas offered Mass in the home of one of the few local Catholics, for lack of a chapel. In every one of [...]
Molokai History: (excerpts from "Pioneers of the Faith: History of the Catholic Mission in Hawaii (1827-1940)" by Robert Schoofs, SS.CC., Sturgis Printing Company, Inc., Honolulu, HI, 1978) (continued from May 14) After Father Damien had completed the churches on topside Molokai with the help of a few dedicated Hawaiians, among whom was a certain Andrew [...]
Molokai History: (from "Pioneers of the Faith: History of the Catholic Mission in Hawaii (1827-1940)" by Robert Schoofs, SS.CC., Sturgis Printing Company, Inc., Honolulu, HI, 1978) (continued from May 13) The fact that Father Burgermann was appointed to top-side Molokai did not completely end Father Damien's ministry on leeward Molokai. Father Burgermann was a sickly [...]