Leper Priest of Molokai: The Father Damien Story

by Richard Stewart

Leper Priest of Moloka'i traces the life of Father Damien from his boyhood in rural Belgium to his death at the Kalaupapa leprosy settlement after sixteen years of remarkable accomplishments. Damien overcame major obstacles to become a Catholic priest and serve as a missionary in Hawai'i. To his spiritual ministry he added the practice of medicine and the skill of a master builder of chapels, churches, and houses, both professions that he taught himself. He decried human suffering, and in his medical practice he emulated the example of his patron saint, Saint Damien the physician, who led many to Christianity by the example of the Good Samaritan.

This biography presents and analyzes much new information about Damien and his years in Hawai'i. The correspondence between Damien, his colleagues in the Catholic church, his Protestant supporters, and agents of the Hawaiian Board of Health gives a fuller understanding of the extent of Damien's work at the settlement and the tensions underlying his relations with Church bureaucrats, who were both impressed by his energy and zeal and irritated by his willfullness and independence. But even his detractors could not deny that he was almost singlehandedly responsible for tremendous improvements to Kalaupapa in the face of overwhelming odds. This is the story of one humble man with faith in God and in himself, who faced gargantuan challenges and triumphed.

Genres: History, Biography, Nonfiction

456 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2000

Reviews

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished this REMARKABLE story of an EXTRAORDINARY man of God. Father Damien was the first full time priest (or pastor) to live among the lepers at the Kalaupapa Peninsula leper colony on the island of Molaka'i (one of the islands of the Hawaiian Islands). He held a firm conviction that he could not properly minister to the outcast lepers without touching them through the administering of the sacraments of communion or anointing with oil and through the cleaning and dressing of their horrific leprous wounds. He firmly believed that because he was doing the Lord's work, he could trust his life in the hands of His Lord who he believed would keep him healthy. When he came face to face with the realization that he had become a leper himself, he embraced the suffering with the conviction that God had given him the chance to partake in the sufferings of Christ.
From the moment he stepped foot on the leper island, he came face to face with the HORRORS of leprosy and the heart wrenching realization that these precious souls had been truly cast aside and segregated with almost no thought for their continuing care. The basics of food water shelter medicine and clothing were supplied minimally by the government and the lepers were left to basically fend for themselves on a part of the island that was mostly volcanic rock. In the years that followed his arrival at the colony, Father Damien initiated massive reforms ... appealing to the Hawaiian Board of Health as well as to the Catholic Sacred Hearts Hawaiian Mission for medical supplies and building materials for building adequate housing and hospitals as well as orphanages for the many leprous children confined there. He appealed to the government for materials to bring clean water to the settlement. By the end of his relatively short life, he had served his lepers as their compassionate spiritual father as well as physician and carpenter, participating in every aspect of their lives. He cared for all regardless of gender, nationality, or religion. While many tried to discredit his ministry out of jealousy, none could overcome the tremendous outpouring of love and affection that he elicited nor the overwhelming facts to the contrary that affirmed his ministry.
The author has put together a compelling story of a remarkable life as well as told the story of leprosy in the Hawaiian Islands and its terrible impact on the native population of the islands. The only criticism I would have would be with the author's tendency to be a bit redundant.

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me a while to read due to the detail-rechecked from library several times. For me it was well worth the read for many circumstances. I know Mr. Stewart worked long & hard to put such detail in the book!!!

[Mishqueen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't have a chance to finish it all before it had to go back to the library; but I do intend to check it out again. If you have the choice to read this version of the history of the leper colony or the fictional novel "Moloka'i", I recommend this one. It's more interesting, gives more background information on why the Hawaiian culture developed how it did, and how that influenced the disease ravaging their people. There is a healthy dose of ancient paganism, modern Christianity, & moral disagreements between previous Hawaiian culture and the "new" Christian cultures that were being introduced among the people. Very, very interesting stuff. In the end, Father Damien succumbs to the same disease that he treated among the Hawaiian people for so many years, and is immortalized in their memories. Unfortunately, part of the reason he was immortalized back then, and other just as saintly helpers were not, is because he was Caucasian. I'd love to see some recorded biographical stories of native heroes who fought for lives alongside him, from the perspective of someone from the same culture. I sought for that when I read "Moloka'i", but unfortunately fiction never gives me the same informational satisfaction as non-fiction.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this after a trip to Moloka'i, Hawaii. There, my husband and I took the mule expedition 1700 ft down a cliff to the historical leper settlement on the isolated Kalaupapa peninsula. We learned much about leprosy only previously known to us from the Bible, and also about Fr. Damien's work there. This book reveals not only his life's work, it reveals the perspectives and stories of many of those forced to live there. It also explores the stories or rumors about him such as Damien's affairs with its inhabitants. It also details the position of the Roman Catholic Church at the Time. Fr. Damien was just made a Saint. This has been in the works since his death. Read it now. You will be enlightrned!

[Brett · Rating 2 out of 5]

It started out pretty well, but it quickly got bogged down. The fact the Richard Stewart wrote this over a long period of time is quite obvious with his disjunct style and redundancies. A good editor could have cut the book down considerably, removing lots of repetitious sections.

[Bev Morey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best story of Damien I've read yet.