Father Damien

Father Damien was a Belgian Catholic priest and missionary who served people with leprosy at Kalaupapa, Molokai, and was canonized as a saint in 2009.

Marianne Cope: A Franciscan sister who cared for people with leprosy in Hawaii and led the community at Kalaupapa after Damien's death. She joined Damien's work at Kalaupapa and continued it after he died.
Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary: A Catholic religious institute founded in France whose members serve as priests, brothers, and sisters. Damien belonged to this institute, which sent him on mission to Hawaii.
Kalaupapa National Historical Park: A protected area on Molokai that preserves Kalaupapa's landscapes and history, including the former settlement. The park safeguards the place where Damien lived and worked.
Saint Damien of Molokai: The Catholic saint name by which Father Damien is venerated following his canonization in 2009. This devotional identity expresses the Church's interpretation of his life and service.
Joseph Dutton: An American lay Catholic who served residents of Kalaupapa for decades after arriving in 1886. He worked alongside Damien and sustained care for the settlement's residents.
Hawaiian Kingdom: An independent Pacific kingdom that existed from 1795 until its overthrow in 1893. Damien's ministry unfolded under Hawaiian sovereignty and its changing public-health policies.
Leprosy settlement at Kalaupapa: A settlement on Molokai where Hawaii confined people diagnosed with leprosy beginning in 1866. Its residents were the community Damien served as priest, caregiver, and advocate.
Leprosy stigma: Social exclusion and prejudice directed at people affected by leprosy. Damien's public identification with residents challenged the stigma surrounding their disease.
Jonathan Napela: A Hawaiian religious leader and translator who helped establish the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Hawaii. His aid to Damien and Kalaupapa residents connected the mission with Hawaiian community life.
Hansen's disease in Hawaii: The history of Hansen's disease and its control in the Hawaiian Islands. The disease's spread and government response created the circumstances of Damien's mission.

Linked from 1 page

MolokaʻiRelated: His work and legacy are closely tied to the settlement’s history.