SAINTS of HAWAII

Saint Damien’s Journey to Sainthood

September 12, 1895: Sacred Hearts Sister Cimplicia Hue, near death after suffering seven months from a debilitating intestinal disease, recovers overnight. She had been praying for a cure through the intercession of Father Damien.

July 7, 1897: Pope Paul VI declares Father Damien "venerable," the first step toward canonization.

December 5, 1991: Father Patrick Bradley, superior general of the Sacred Hearts Fathers, announces that sister Simplicia's cure has been accepted by the Vatican Medical Commission of the Congregation for the Cause of Saints as a "real miracle," the primary requirement for beatification, pending papal approval.

June 13, 1992: Pope John Paul II officially approves the miracle attributed to Damien.

November 3, 1992: Pope John Paul II announces, through the Belgium bishops, that Damien will be beatified in May 1994 in Belgium.

March 5, 1993: Father Patrick Bradley announces May 10, 1994 as Blessed Damien's Feast Day.

May 15, 1995: Pope John Paul II beatifies Father Damien de Veuster in Brussels, Belgium.

July 3, 2008: Holy Father signs decree confirming that the healing of Audrey Toguchi from cancer is a miracle.

October 11, 2009: Pope Benedictus XVI canonized Father Damien de Veuster in Rome, Italy. He gave the relic to the Most Reverend Larry Silva, Bishop of Honolulu.

Saint Marianne’s Journey Towards Sainthood

The Sisters of St. Francis began collecting materials soon after Mother Marianne's death for her eventual canonization.

October 24, 2003, theologians, cardinals and bishops at the Congregation for the Causes of Saints declared her heroically virtuous.

April 19, 2004, Pope John Paul II issued the decree officially naming her Venerable.

December 20, 2004, after receiving the unanimous affirmation of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, Pope John Paul II ordered a decree to be issued authenticating a miracle attributed to Mother Marianne's intercession.

May 14, 2005, Venerable Marianne Cope was beatified. Another verified miracle happening after her status of Blessed would lead to her canonization.

June 16, 2011, Vatican Medical Board rules unanimously that a second miracle case is an inexplicable medical recovery.

October 8, 2011, theologians rule unanimously that the second miracle case was due to the intercession of Blessed Marianne Cope.

December 6, 2011, the Congregation for Causes of Saints affirms Blessed Marianne for canonization.

2011, Pope Benedict XVI affirms Blessed Marianne for canonization.

October 21, 2012, canonization of Mother Marianne Cope

Joseph Dutton’s Bio

The Servant of God Joseph Dutton was born in Stowe, Vermont on April 27, 1843, and was raised in Wisconsin. He was a soldier in the United States Civil War, serving in the Union Army. After the War, he entered a difficult marriage, which lasted only about a year, and he took to drinking heavily. At the age of 40, he had a conversion experience and became a Catholic. He wanted to do penance for what he considered a wayward life, so he entered a monastery, only to discern that this was not his vocation. He heard about Father Damien De Veuster and Sister Marianne Cope and their heroic work with the patients with leprosy in Molokai. He volunteered to go there to help them, arriving on July 29, 1886. He humbly and faithfully served the patients of the settlement for 44 years, primarily caring for the young boys who lived at the Baldwin Home. He became ill and was transferred to St. Francis Hospital in Honolulu, where he died on March 26, 1931.