CHURCH SOCIAL TIPS
On Oct. 21, 2012, Hawaii celebrated the second saint from our Catholic ‘ohana. This year marks the 10th anniversary of that blessed day in Rome when our beloved Mother Marianne Cope was canonized.
Sister Alicia Damien Lau, a sister of St. Francis of the Neumann Communities, participated in the canonization Mass 10 years ago. She says it was “such a gift” seeing the nine patients from Kalaupapa there to witness the historic event.
Eva Andrade as Mother Marianne Cope
Today, Sister Alicia volunteers at Kalaupapa, providing care to the surviving six patients who live on the peninsula. She also works with the Damien and Marianne Catholic Conference to continue to educate the world about our Hawaii saints.
The spirit of our beloved St. Marianne has inspired many. Following her canonization, Eva Andrade was called to share the story of her life through the play “November’s Song,” playing the role of Mother Marianne in performances across Hawaii.
“The play enriched my faith in a way that has changed me,” Andrade says. “For one moment, I could transport myself into the ministry of a woman who dedicated so much of her life to help others. She did so without fear and a strong determination to bring Christ’s love and healing into a world that so desperately needed grace.
“As a child, I was taught by the Sisters of St. Francis and many of them helped form my faith as I live it out today. Playing Mother Marianne was a small way I could bring to life the very faith and love that was taught to me.”
The Damien and Marianne Catholic Conference is hosting a webinar Oct. 22 in celebration of the 10th anniversary of St. Marianne’s canonization that shares the story of how “November’s Song” came to be. Andrade and the play’s director, Deacon Modesto Cordero, will speak.
Deacon Cordero says he learned so much about the Sisters of St. Francis and their works of mercy modeled by their leader.
“I admire that Mother Marianne treated people with great humanity,” he says.
As we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, a disease that took the lives of over one million souls in the U.S. alone, we can more easily imagine the work of Mother Marianne with those afflicted with Hansen’s disease. We continue to celebrate health workers who put their lives in danger to care for so many infected with COVID while risking contracting the disease. Many prayed for healthcare workers during this turbulent time using the prayer from the Diocese of Syracuse that hailed her example:
“O Mary, full of grace, patroness of this nation and mother of the church in this time of illness and worldwide need, we seek your intercession for the human family before your Son’s throne of grace and mercy. We ask for strength in adversity, health in weakness, and comfort in sorrow. Help us, O Blessed Mother, to be filled with confidence and trust in the tender compassion of our God. Let us not be afraid, like our own St. Marianne Cope, who entrusted her life and ministry among the outcasts of society into the care of our Divine Physician. Continue to watch over all who are sick as well as those who care for them and give wisdom to all who are seeking a cure. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.”
St. Marianne died over 100 years ago, but her spirit lives on inspiring others. She is the patron of outcasts and those infected with HIV and AIDS. You may register for the Oct. 22 webinar 10-11:30 a.m. at dmcchawaii.org/webinars.
The Damien and Marianne Catholic Conference continues to share content online about our Hawaii saints. It hopes to resume an in-person experience in 2024. Please pray for an increase in women joining the Sisters of St. Francis to continue the works of mercy that are the order’s charism.
Hayes-Peirce is a Catholic social media consultant based in California.
