Saint Damien of Molokai

I was born as Joseph de Veuster in Belgium in 1840.  When I was 20 years old I joined my brother in the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. My religious name was Damien. After I experienced a vision of Saint Francis, I felt that I should follow a missionary vocation. We sailed for Hawaii in 1863 and after my arrival there I was ordained a priest. I heard about the horrors on the island of Molokai, where people with leprosy were being sent. I decided to volunteer for the service to these abandoned people. I devoted myself to help everyone on Molokai. One day, I was rewarded the highest Hawaiian decoration for my work. I always was persistent to give God the very first place in my work, even after I discovered that I too had leprosy. I died on April 15, 1889.