Saint Damien of Moloka‘i

Father Damien (nee Jozef deVeuster) of Moloka‘i was canonized as a saint of the Roman Catholic Church today in Vatican City, by Pope Benedict XVI.

Saint Damien was a missionary from Belgium, who ministered to the leper colony at Kalaupapa, Moloka‘i (which is now a national park). He lived among the colony, and eventually succumbed to the disease.

Today's photo shows the statue of Saint Damien that stands on the Beretania Street side of the Capitol Building.