Photo courtesy of Sister Theresa Chow, OSF

Anthuriums are placed at the grave of Mother Marianne in Kalaupapa for her birthday and feast day, Jan. 23.

A simple birthday gathering back home for ‘mother’

By Sister Theresa Chow, OSF | Special to the Herald

Here at Kalaupapa, Jan. 23 is a very special day. It is the day Blessed Marianne Cope received life from God and special recognition from the Catholic Church. For some of us, going to the unveiling of the bronze statue of Marianne in Honolulu (see page 9) was out of the question. The thought was dropped and forgotten.

However, Sister Rose Annette Ahuna, one of the Sisters of St. Francis, decided that we should have a celebration of our own here at Kalaupapa. It would be a simple ceremony, one that would honor our “mother,” as she is known to us.

We gathered at the grave site of Blessed Marianne, each holding an anthurium to place it in a large container in her honor. Sacred Hearts Father Felix Vandebroek began with a blessing of the grave. Sister Rose Annette then gave a short biography of Marianne and announced that, at this very moment, the Sisters of St Francis, Bishop Larry Silva, and others were witnessing the unveiling of a bronze statue of Marianne at a waterfront in Honolulu.

After a short prayer, we placed our anthuriums in a large vase at the grave site. We added our special petitions and asked Marianne to intercede for us. We then processed, each with a lighted vigil candle, to St. Elizabeth Chapel next to Bishop Home where Father Felix celebrated Mass. At the offertory we placed our lighted candles before Blessed Marianne’s picture.

Present were eight resident patients, nurses from the care center, the administrator, national park workers, the food service manager, volunteers and our two Sisters of St. Francis.

We all then went to Bishop Home for a light lunch with ice cream and a birthday cake for our “mother” — Marianne.