Fr. Damien "Apostle of the Lepers" A one-man play

Damien
A one-man play performed
by Father Richard Wahl, CSB
 
All families and individuals (over the age of 15), are invited to join us for this special presentation on:
 
Wednesday, March 21
The Parish Hall - Room 127
6:30 pm to 8:15 pm
 
Fr. Damien de Veuster, known as “the Apostle of the Lepers”, was canonized on Oct. 11, 2009.

THE PLAY (by Aldyth Morris) is a story within a story.  The dead Father Damien recounts how his body is being taken from Molokai, the leper colony and original burial place in Hawaii, to Louvain Belgium for re-burial.  At the same time, he remembers events associated with the many places that his body passes. 

THE ACTOR - Fr. Richard Wahl, CSB, a priest of the Congregation of St. Basil, spent 28 years of his priestly ministry in Catholic high schools, including St. Thomas High School, Houston.  Since 2000,  he has served as a canon lawyer in the Archdiocesan Tribunal.

Father Wahl originally saw this play performed in 1980 and considered it a wonderful teaching about Catholic values and the priestly vocation.  He has performed it for Catholic parishes and schools intermittently since 1985. 

This program is offered during week 4 of our Lent Series and focuses on: Alms = Mercy
 
Help support our programs with a donation (love offering) of $2

 "Holiness is not perfection according to human criteria; it is not reserved for a small number of exceptional persons. It is for everyone; it is the Lord who brings us to holiness, when we are willing to collaborate in the salvation of the world for the glory of God, despite our sin and our sometimes rebellious temperament."  (From the homily by Pope John Paul II on Fr. Damien's beatification)
 

Chronology of Fr. Damien DeVeuster, ss.cc.

1840 – born in Belgium, January 3.
1860 – enters the Sacred Heart Fathers novitiate.
1864 – arrives in the Hawaiian Islands
            ordained a priest.

1873 – begins his ministry with lepers at Molokai.
1885 – diagnosed with leprosy (Hansen Disease).
1889 – dies from the ravages of leprosy.
1936 – body moved to Louvain Belgium.

1994 – declared “Blessed” by Pope John Paul II
2009 – declared “saint” by Pope Benedict XVI (October 11)