An often asked question was, “Why aren’t you going to Rome for the
canonization?
The response was simple. Many wanted to go who could not afford it and,
it reallyis a good idea to have a celebration here at the Retreat Center
as a part of our presence in the area,
Diocese and the local Church. And so, we planned and planned and planned.
The day was sunny and comfortably
cool and the crowds who came were well over a thousand. That’s what we had
hoped for, and it came about.
The huge tent, (though not big enough for all those people) had chairs
filling it and all around the sides. They were all filled. Our Sacred
Hearts Sisters and Brothers were seated up front partly facing the altar
and partly facing the congregation. Here was what happened:
 Fr.
Damien arrived across the lawn with a beautiful horse carrying
provisions and people who were wrapped in bandages from their sickness.
They were quiet. Everything was quiet. All those people were quiet as
the soft voices of Fr. Damien
and company quietly prayed and sang, “Jesus Remember Me”. The people with
Damien left as well as the pack horse and he (I was dressed as Damien)
quietly entered the tent and walked down the aisle. I was wearing
Damien’s garb and roundglasses as Damien did but these had only glass.
(I need, really need, prescription glasses. I saw little.)
Quiet prevailed. I ascended the altar steps and looked out at the crowd
I could hardly see, yet I spoke as if I were Damien who was reflectingon
being a simple man, being made a saint of the Church:
“I am called holy, but I am but a simple man who has tried to follow the
Good News of Jesus Christ through the gifts and Charism of the
Congregation of the Sacred Hearts.I am a brother and servant of those
cast away because of sickness and fear. If I am holy, it as come from
the lowly who gave me the privilege of serving them as brother. And so
this day, even though I remain simple, I celebrate with the Church what
one man can do when he doesn’t do LIFE and FAITH and ACTION and even
DEATH alone. And so, we celebrate and we celebrate with great joy.”
…..and so, the celebration began with music, holy and alive, with flags
and
 banners
and dancers, with voices raised in praise and The Eucharist celebrated
as the heart of it all. Children danced to a Hawaiian spiritual and it
brought people to tears. Embraces of peace transformed strangers into
community and Communion was a real communion in the heart of our
God. As the Eucharist began, I replaced the glasses of Damien with the
glasses I need to use in order to see. I saw and filled with tears
at the awesome sight of it all.
 After
Mass there were long lines for food an Malassadas and cakes of every
variety; there was Cox Candy and popcorn and tables with gifts or
exhibits for people to learn about the Congregation, our Vocation and
our laity involved in the Charism through the Secular Branch or the Men
of the Sacred Hearts or the work of the Enthronement. There were people
and exhibits
 from
the Emmaus retreats for young adults; Wareham Land Trust; Marion
Institute; Mass Audubon, and Americorps. There were religious goods for
sale and shirts and mugsand paintings and giclee prints and all kinds of
things. There were the Knights of Columbus as an Honor Guard at the
shrine to St. Damien and it wasa beautiful sight to behold with the
statue over flowing with leis of colored flowers and surrounded by even
more mums of fall colors. The Fire truck was parked and welcomed people
to see inside and learn
 about
safely. There was a Damien Museum, a beautiful DVD made by our brothers
in the Congregation and the Secular Branch in the Western province which
was played all day. Sun flowers were made from paper and faces were
painted, flower arrangements were sold and quilts raffled, and donated,
knitted goods sold. Golf carts helped people get around and there was a
transport system to move people to and from the parking lots where they
left their cars. It was a celebration to remember.
… and Re-Member it does. It puts our members so much closer together
because we rejoice in the Hope offered by what this “Holy Man” has done,
and continues to do it our midst. The event is over. The celebration
goes on.
Thank God for it all.
|
