Aloha Saint Damien: Where is he now – besides heaven.

This is an ongoing blog about Father Damien by Molokai Dispatch reporter Megan Stephenson.

Father Damien will forever remain in Hawaii, spiritually and physically. After the canonization celebrations were over in Rome, a part of his body – bones from his foot – will make a tour across two oceans and most of the USA as a relic.

The relic and its accompanying group is already on its way, stopping in Detroit on Tuesday, San Francisco today (Thursday), and Oakland, California Friday. It will arrive in Honolulu on Saturday, and immediately depart for the Big Island. Below is the relic itinerary for Hawaii.

Hawaii
Saturday Oct. 17 – Kona
Sunday Oct. 18 – Holuola and Kailua-Kona
Monday Oct. 19 – Honokaa and Waimea
Tuesday Oct. 20 – Hawi
Wednesday Oct. 21 – Laupahoehoe, Naalehu, Mountain View and Keaau
Thursday Oct. 22 – Pahoa, Keaukaha and Papaikou
Friday Oct. 23 – Hilo
Maui
Saturday Oct. 24 – Kihei, Kahului, Wailuku and Hana
Sunday Oct. 25 – Paia, Makawao and Maui Memorial Gym
Monday Oct. 26 – Kula, Waihee, Kapalua and Lahaina
Lanai
Tuesday Oct. 27 – Manele Harbor and Lanai City
Wednesday Oct. 28 – Lanai City
Kauai
Wednesday Oct. 28 – Lihue
Thursday Oct. 29 – Kapaa, Kekaha, Kalaheo and Koloa
Molokai
Friday Oct. 30 – arrives 9:20am, taken to Our Lady of Seven Sorrows in Kaluaahu for 12:30p Mass; St. Joseph’s in Kamalo for 3pm prayer; St. Sophia’s in Kaunakakai for 6pm interfaith service at nearby ball field, followed by personal prayer and devotion by relic party
Saturday Oct. 31 – 7am carry relic down Kalaupapa trail; 9am greeted by National Park Service in Kalaupapa
Oahu
Sunday Nov. 1 – Noon Mass at Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace with Bishop Silva; interfaith service at Iolani Palace at 2pm; relic returned to Cathedral where it will remain permanently

Going back to Old Testament days, a relic is an object or part of the saint that is venerated, or honored. The item’s significance to the saint is what makes the object venerated as well. For instance, Saint Damien’s first relic that arrived on Molokai in 1995 was his right hand, which was deeply infected with leprosy. The upcoming relic signifies his missionary duties of constant traveling, to serve his parishioners. His hand is buried at his original gravesite in Kalawao.

Visit http://www.fatherdamien.com/damien.html for specific locations and times. The relic will be on display at these locations for reflection, prayer, and veneration.