On April 7, Patricia and Aurora visited Kalaupapa on Molokai. After more than two years, the Kalaupapa site was opened to visitors, provided they were sponsored by someone local. Pat Killilea, ss.cc. welcomed and accompanied the sisters to visit the "sacred" places on the island. After a short meeting with the Franciscan sisters of Syracuse, who explained the important role that Damien of Molokai and Marianne Cope played in the history of Kalaupapa, Patricia, Aurora and Pat went to St. Philomena.
There they prayed for the whole Congregation and for the eradication of the different "leprosies" that still exist in our world. It was an opportunity to pray at the tomb of Damien and at the tomb of Joseph Dutton, remembering that on May 10 the process for his beatification will begin.
It is truly unusual and a sign of the Spirit that, in such a small piece of land, there could be a third saint in addition to St. Damien and St. Marianne. If so, Kalaupapa would have three saints: a religious sister, a religious priest and a layman, who were contemporaries. Let us hope that the cause will take its course and we can count on one more saint.
After visiting other interesting places, Patricia and Aurora returned to Honolulu, grateful to be able to enjoy these holy places once again. It is truly an enriching experience that will always be treasured in our heart. Mahalo to the Hawaiian sisters and to father Pat who made this pilgrimage possible.
04/14/2022