The celebration also featured hula performances, music from the Royal Hawaiian Band and several guest speakers, including a few who read excerpts from the correspondences between Damien, Queen Kapiolani and Queen Liliuokalani. (Click here for a clip of one of the hula performances.)

It was made clear that Damien has a worldwide influence. Most of the guest speakers agreed that he has also become a representative of the Islands.

“To the people of the world and, especially those here in Hawaii, Saint Damien is an icon of humanitarian service,” said Lt. Gov. Aiona. “His canonization into sainthood perpetuates the spirit of aloha for all of Hawaii’s past, present and future generations. It’s a time to be proud Catholics and residents of the state of Hawaii.”

The ceremony was followed by a procession to the Liliuokalani and Damien statues on the grounds of the Hawaii State Capitol. As prayers were chanted in Hawaiian, the relic was placed on a miniature koa outrigger canoe and carried to the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace. (Click here for video at the Damien statue.)

Others in the procession included the Sisters of Saint Francis, the Knights of Columbus and Audrey Toguchi, the Oahu woman who attributed her miraculous cure from terminal cancer to Damien. Toguchi said that after she prayed for Damien’s intercession, her cancer disappeared. Toguchi’s situation was deemed the second miracle needed by the Catholic Church to make Damien a saint.

The celebration ended with an evening prayer service at the Cathedral at Our Lady of Peace and a blessing of the new koa shrine that will hold Damien’s relic permanently. Special services will be held daily through Friday, Nov. 6, to honor the relic.

Want to visit the relic on your next trip to Honolulu? The Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace is open to the public and offers Mass on Sundays, weekdays and Saturdays. (Click here for the complete schedule.) The cathedral is located at 1184 Bishop Street in Honolulu; call (808) 536-7036.

Here are some highlights from last weekend's relic celebrations. Click on the slideshow screen below for larger photos.

 



Check out these related HawaiiMagazine.com posts:
Father Damien’s sainthood: Here's the complete TV and relic tour schedule
Hawaii’s Saint Damien inspires art, artists and aloha shirts
Pope clears Father Damien for sainthood