Father Damien

By Laura E. Williams Illustrated by Kristen Kofsky
This is a moving story of Joseph De Veuster, better known around the world as Father Damien. With full color illustrations, this chapter book starts with Damien's life as a boy in Belgium and then highlights his selfless work in the Sandwich Islands as a missionary. After many years on the island of Hawai'i, he spent the last sixteen years of his life in Kalawao, Moloka'i where both children and adults afflicted with leprosy were sent to die. Although it seemed that no one cared, Father Damien did. He cared so much that he ended up contracting the deadly disease himself. Not just a book for those interested in religion, this fascinating story of Father Damien will have young readers thinking about how humans treat each other and ultimately what it means to belong to the human race.
Father Damien is said to be responsible for two posthumous miracles which have resulted in his canonization. On October 11, 2009, a ceremony will be held for Father Damien to become a saint in the Catholic Church.
60 pages 5-1/2" x 8-1/2" Soft Cover