Father Damien

January 3, 1840, Josef de Veuster is born in Tremeloo, Belgium. Only nineteen year’s later Josef de Veuster joins the Picpus Fathers of Louvain as a novice. (A novice is a member of a religious order who has not taken any final vows.) Shortly after joining Picpus Fathers, Joseph se Veuster’s name is changed to, as we know him, Father Damien. October 30, 1863 Damien starts his four-month voyage to the Hawaiian Islands. He arrives in March …

…house instead of a hut. Damien would go on to do some more things on the Island to help the leprocy victims, until he would become a victim himself. He died on April 15, 1889. 1908- Dapsone, an anti-leprocy drug is discovered in Germany. 1936- Damien’s body is returned to Belgium for a state funeral. 1969- Damien’s statue is placed in Washington D.C. 1980- President Jimmy Carter makes Kalaupapa, Hawaii a national historic park.