Father Damien Day in United States
Quick Facts
Father Damien Day is an occasion for residents of the state of Hawaii to remember the life and deeds of a Belgian missionary.Name
Father Damien DayFather Damien Day 2008
Tuesday, April 15, 2008Father Damien Day 2009
Wednesday, April 15, 2009See list of observations below
Father Damien Day commemorates the work of a priest who spent most of his life helping Hansen's disease sufferers. ©iStockphoto.com/Charlie Wagner
What do people do?
A variety of activities are organized on April 15. The statue of Father Damien at the Hawaii Capitol is carefully draped in lei (a Hawaiian flower garland often hung around the necks of guests), prayers are said and solemn songs are sung. Father Damien is awaiting sainthood and recently, a Catholic Feast Day has been created for Blessed Damien of Molokai, as he has become known, on May 10. On this day, wreaths are laid at his statue, prayer services are held and essay competitions are held.
Public life
April 15 is not a public holiday and public life is not affected.
Background
On January 3, 1840, Jozef de Veuster was born in the village of Tremelo in Belgium. He took the name Damianus when he became a novice in the order of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary (also known as Picpus Fathers) in Leuven, Belgium. In 1860 he became a full member of the order. This congregation sent missionaries to work on some islands in the Pacific Ocean since 1827. Father Damien, as he was known, was sent to Hawaii, where he worked in a colony for sufferers of Hansen's disease, or leprosy, on the island of Molokai. He spent the rest of his life there working to alleviate suffering and died of the same disease on April 15, 1889.
Symbols
Images of Father Damien are in churches and public places around the world. The most impressive are two identical bronze statues, which were designed by the sculptor Marisol Escobar and unveiled in 1969. One forms the centerpiece of the entrance to the Hawaii State Capitol in Honolulu and the other is in the National Statuary Hall Collection in the United States Capitol, Washington, DC.
Father Damien was originally buried on Molokai and his grave there is a site of devotion. In 1936, he body was returned to Belgium and he is now buried in Belgium, close to where he was born. His religious symbols are a tree and a dove and he is a spiritual patron for people living with HIV.
Father Damien Day Observances
| Weekday | Date | Year | Name | Holiday type | Where it is observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue | Apr 15 | 1980 | Father Damien Day | Local observance | HI |
| Wed | Apr 15 | 1981 | Father Damien Day | Local observance | HI |
| Thu | Apr 15 | 1982 | Father Damien Day | Local observance | HI |
| Fri | Apr 15 | 1983 | Father Damien Day | Local observance | HI |
| Sun | Apr 15 | 1984 | Father Damien Day | Local observance | HI |
| Mon | Apr 15 | 1985 | Father Damien Day | Local observance | HI |
| Tue | Apr 15 | 1986 | Father Damien Day | Local observance | HI |
| Wed | Apr 15 | 1987 | Father Damien Day | Local observance | HI |
| Fri | Apr 15 | 1988 | Father Damien Day | Local observance | HI |
| Sat | Apr 15 | 1989 | Father Damien Day | Local observance | HI |
| Sun | Apr 15 | 1990 | Father Damien Day | Local observance | HI |
| Mon | Apr 15 | 1991 | Father Damien Day | Local observance | HI |
| Wed | Apr 15 | 1992 | Father Damien Day | Local observance | HI |
| Thu | Apr 15 | 1993 | Father Damien Day | Local observance | HI |
| Fri | Apr 15 | 1994 | Father Damien Day | Local observance | HI |
| Sat | Apr 15 | 1995 | Father Damien Day | Local observance | HI |
| Mon | Apr 15 | 1996 | Father Damien Day | Local observance | HI |
| Tue | Apr 15 | 1997 | Father Damien Day | Local observance | HI |
| Wed | Apr 15 | 1998 | Father Damien Day | Local observance | HI |
| Thu | Apr 15 | 1999 | Father Damien Day | Local observance | HI |
| Sat | Apr 15 | 2000 | Father Damien Day | Local observance | HI |
| Sun | Apr 15 | 2001 | Father Damien Day | Local observance | HI |
| Mon | Apr 15 | 2002 | Father Damien Day | Local observance | HI |
| Tue | Apr 15 | 2003 | Father Damien Day | Local observance | HI |
| Thu | Apr 15 | 2004 | Father Damien Day | Local observance | HI |
| Fri | Apr 15 | 2005 | Father Damien Day | Local observance | HI |
| Sat | Apr 15 | 2006 | Father Damien Day | Local observance | HI |
| Sun | Apr 15 | 2007 | Father Damien Day | Local observance | HI |
| Tue | Apr 15 | 2008 | Father Damien Day | Local observance | HI |
| Wed | Apr 15 | 2009 | Father Damien Day | Local observance | HI |
| Thu | Apr 15 | 2010 | Father Damien Day | Local observance | HI |
| Fri | Apr 15 | 2011 | Father Damien Day | Local observance | HI |
| Sun | Apr 15 | 2012 | Father Damien Day | Local observance | HI |
| Mon | Apr 15 | 2013 | Father Damien Day | Local observance | HI |
| Tue | Apr 15 | 2014 | Father Damien Day | Local observance | HI |
| Wed | Apr 15 | 2015 | Father Damien Day | Local observance | HI |
Other holidays in April 2008 in United States
- Pascua Florida Day (Wednesday, April 2, 2008)
- United Nations' Mine Awareness Day (Friday, April 4, 2008)
- United Nations' World Health Day (Monday, April 7, 2008)
- Tax Day (Tuesday, April 15, 2008)
- Emancipation Day (Wednesday, April 16, 2008)
- First day of Passover (Sunday, April 20, 2008)
- San Jacinto Day (Monday, April 21, 2008)
- Patriot's Day (Monday, April 21, 2008)
- Earth Day (Tuesday, April 22, 2008)
- Oklahoma Day (Tuesday, April 22, 2008)
- Administrative Professionals Day (Wednesday, April 23, 2008)
- World Book and Copyright Day (Wednesday, April 23, 2008)
- Arbor Day (Friday, April 25, 2008)
- Orthodox Easter (Sunday, April 27, 2008)
- Last day of Passover (Sunday, April 27, 2008)
- Confederate Memorial Day (Monday, April 28, 2008)
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