Belgian King and Queen attend Father Damien Mass in Tremelo

King Albert and Queen Paola attended a mass in honour of the canonisation of Father Damien (Pater Damiaan, Père Damien) in Tremelo, the village where Father Damien was born as Jozef De Veuster. The canonisation is for next week, 11 October, but the village of Tremelo is taking the opportunity to celebrate it’s most known inhabitant all week. Father Damien left for Hawaii on missionary work, and asked to be transferred to Molokai to provide some basic medical and spiritual care for the leprosy on the island. Despite strong opposition within the Church, and even a direct command to leave the place, he remained on Molokai.

The mass was in open air, and attended by a large number of people. Cardinal Danneels lead the service. Apart from the King and Queen, it was also attended by the American ambassador to Belgium, the Belgian Prime Minister and the Flemish Minister-President. A group from Molokai was also present.

Queen Paola, King Albert and a delegation from the Belgian government will also attend the canonisation in Rome next week.

For more information, see this thread.
See here for an article in Dutch.

Filed under Belgium
Tagged Albert II of Belgium, Canonisation, Mass, Queen Paola of Belgium.

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