The dual shrine-reliquaries in the Lanikai
wing of St. Anthony of Padua Church in
Kailua, Oahu. To the left is the shrine of St.
Damien of Molokai, while to the right is the
shrine to our Patron, St. Anthony.
I am happy to announce that there is now another special, public shrine to St. Damien of Molokai on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. Besides the large reliquary situated within the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in Honolulu, a new shrine to the world-famous Saint of Lepers has been inaugurated and blessed today - September 12th, 2015 - in my home-parish of St. Anthony of Padua Church in Kailua.
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| Our Fr. Nick blessing the new St. Damien Shrine. |
Earlier this year, a package arrived from Belgium for our parish priest, Fr. Exsequel, from the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts. In the package was a long-awaited relic of Hawaii's own, St. Damien de Veuster (d. 1889) - a 2nd Class Relic of large wood fragments from the original koa wood coffin that once held the mortal remains of the Saint. It was gifted by the Belgian congregation to our community after one of our parishioners, in collaboration with our priest, sent a letter of request to the congregation. The request was apparently approved because the relic eventually arrived, much to our pleasant surprise.
So with the installation of this new shrine, our parish is now privileged to guard and venerate within it's church walls two authentic Sacred Relics - one of our Patron Saint, St. Anthony of Padua (1st Class)... and now this 2nd Class Relic of St. Damien. What a great blessing for us!
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| My drawing of St. Damien. |
As with the reliquary of St. Anthony, I had the honor of preparing St. Damien's shrine for his relic, as well as actively participated in the installation of it during our Saturday evening Vigil Mass. Within the wooden case is not just the relic, itself, but I also placed a copy of its Certification of Authenticity and an original watercolor rendering of St. Damien that I did just for the shrine (right photo). Silk flowers and leis were included as decoration, and it all came together nicely as a worthy resting place for the Holy Relic.
And how fitting that this weekend would be the one that was chosen for the inauguration of the reliquary. The Gospel Reading for tonight's Mass from the Book of Mark was a perfect summary of the admirable life of St. Damien, who generously sacrificed himself for the benefit of the exiled leprosy patients on Molokai island in the late 1900s:
“Whoever wishes to come after me
must deny himself, take up his cross,
and follow me. For whoever wishes to
save his life will lose it, but whoever
loses his life for my sake and
that of the gospel will save it.”
~ Words of Jesus Christ, Mark 8:34-35
If you're ever on the windward side of Oahu, please stop by at St. Anthony of Padua Church for Mass and/or to petition and venerate our two resident Saints... or to light a votive candle in the comforting presence of their hallowed remains. E Komo Mai ("come right in")... All are welcomed!
A closer view of the inside of St. Damien's
Shrine enclosing fragments of wood from the Saint's original coffin (bottom-center)
and a framed copy of the certification
of authenticity.
“My greatest pleasure is to
serve the Lord in his poor children
rejected by other people.”
~ Words of St. Damien de Veuster
St. Damien pray for me.
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