Father Damien’s Way (Manhattan)
Present name:33rd Street
Location:Between 1st Avenue and 2nd Avenue
Honoree: Father Damien (1840-1889) de Veuster was born in Tremeto, Belgium and entered the noviate at Leuven monastery. In 1864, he left Belgium for Hawaii as a missionary and for 16 years he provided spiritual and medical assistance to those suffering leprosy. He worked on a government-sanctioned medical quarantine colony, which is still in existence on the island of Molokai. He eventually succumbed to the disease himself. His work inspired Mahatma Gandhi and Mother Teresa in caring for the sick. He was canonized on October 11, 2009. He is the unofficial patron of those with HIV and AIDS. (Mendez)
LL:2014/34