Next Wednesday, May 10th, the Church celebrates the Feast Day of Saint Damien of Molokai, the missionary priest of the Sacred Hearts who lived among lepers on an island in Hawaii. The novena began on Monday, May 1st, and will continue until Tuesday, May 9th.

The videos were recorded last year by the rector of the Sanctuary of Health and Peace, Father Vinícius Maciel, SSCC, using texts from the novena printed by the rector himself. Each day of the novena lasts about 8 minutes and includes prayers to the Saint and excerpts from his life story dedicated to the sick.

In addition to being able to watch the individual videos whenever you want, devotees can also follow the novena being broadcast immediately after the 7 PM Mass on the Padre Eustáquio Channel. If you want to watch the videos and do the Novena, CLICK HERE And pray with us each day to this great Saint of the Catholic Church.

Saint Damien of Molokai

Jozef de Veuster was born in Tremelo on January 3, 1840. Having entered the novitiate of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, he adopted the name Damien. Influenced by his brother, who wanted to be a missionary in distant lands, he also decided to go to mission areas. He obtained permission to move to the Hawaiian archipelago. Thus, he arrived in Honolulu, the capital of the islands. There he received priestly ordination and began to dedicate himself particularly to the sick.

At that time, those suffering from leprosy or Hansen's disease were sent and forced to live in a colony on the island of Molokai. Faced with the need for a priest to provide religious and spiritual care, Damien volunteered to take on this mission. Gradually, however, the holy missionary transformed Molokai. He built a church dedicated to Saint Philomena, a hospital, an infirmary, a school, and several houses on the island.

In 1885, at the age of 49, Father Damien himself contracted leprosy. Offered to leave the island for treatment, Father Damien refused. Despite the pain, he continued God's work among those despised people. Shortly before his death, he witnessed the arrival of Father Wendelin and the Franciscan Sisters, who took over the infirmary. One of them was Blessed Mother Marianna Cope, who served the island's sick for over 30 years. Father Damien passed away on April 15, 1889, was beatified by Saint John Paul II in 1995, and canonized by Pope Benedict XVI in 2009.

May 10th was chosen as the liturgical day for the remembrance of Saint Damien of Molokai because it was the day he arrived on the island to care for the lepers.