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Saint Damien,
Martyr of Molokai continued
Damien's reputation as the “Martyr of Molokai” has made him one of Hawaii’s most beloved heroes. He was canonized on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009, by Pope Benedict XVI, making him the first Hawaii priest elevated to sainthood by the Catholic Church.
St. Philomena Church was the focal point of Saint Damien’s activities. The church, located in Kalaupapa National Historical Park, was built in 1872. In the 1980s, a group called The Friends of Father Damien launched a major effort to raise funds for the repair work, which cost about $500,000. The refurbishment was completed in April 1989, the 100th anniversary of the saint’s death.
Kalaupapa Peninsula
Not until the 1940s was Hansen’s disease brought under control by sulfone drugs. Today, fewer than 20 people remain in Kalaupapa, and, unlike the patients of the 19th century, they are free to come and go as they please.
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