Thursday, October 1, 2009

Fr. Damien Making a Difference, God Making a Saint

What a wonderful project this has turned out to be! We will be mastering the project tomorrow and duplicating the film next week. Thank you to all you contributed that breathed the life into this project! Tom Wilson is the voice of Damien and Mike Laponis is the Narrator. It is being made available for purchase beginning this weekend through pre-order. A trailer will be released shortly.

Here is some information on the documentary:

Synopsis

The story of Damien of Molokai, a priest of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts, told through his own words

At the age of 33, Fr. Damien de Veuster was sent to Molokai to serve the people suffering from Hansen's disease (leprosy). When he arrived, the people living in the leper colony lacked all basic necessities and lived in fear---immorality and lawlessness being the norm. Fr. Damien came to live among them, becoming a voice to the outside world, ministering to the people, providing food, shelter, love, hope, and faith. This story is told through Damien's own words taken from his writings in letters and journals. Members of the Congregation of the Sacred hearts of Jesus and Mary, of which Damien was a member, provide reflection, showing how the touch of God was evident throughout Damien's life from the very beginning.



Of Special Note:

With regards to terminology, it has become appropriate in the 20th Century to use the term “Hansen’s Disease” in place of “leprosy” and to avoid the use of “leper”. The idea is that the terms leprosy and leper carry with it connotation of ignorance and disrespect. During Damien’s time, the disease was only known as leprosy, and it wasn’t until 1909 that Gerhard Henrik Armauer Hansen’s discoveries on leprosy research were recognized. To preserve the historical integrity of the time period we reflect on in Damien Making a Difference, God Making a Saint, we have chosen to use the terms as they were understood at the time. It is not meant as a sign of disrespect to Hansen’s disease patients. It is consistent throughout the video to keep Damien’s own words in proper context.

All of the quotes in this documentary are Damien’s own words as translated from his letters, journals, and other writings that were made available to the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts USA West in “Damien of Molokai: Through His Letters” by Osvaldo Aparicio.

We are grateful to all who contributed to the making of Damien Making a Difference, God Making a Saint, including those who opened their archives to us, those who made themselves available to us, and the Secular Branch of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts USA West for providing the funds to produce this film. Thank you to Tom Wilson, Mike Laponis, Kristina Giuliano, Jon Keck, Shane Rodrigues, Fr. Chris Keahi ss.cc., Fr. Peadar Cronin ss.cc., Fr. Bill Moore ss.cc., Martha Ward, Linda Smith, and Holy Name of Mary Parish.


FILM CREDITS


a film written by JENNIFER HOGE and STEPHANY REH featuring TOM WILSON MIKE LAPONIS

FR. MICHAEL BARRY, SS.CC. FR. MARTIN O’LOGHLEN, SS.CC FR. JOHN ROCHE, SS.CC.

Produced by THE CONGREGATION OF THE SACRED HEARTS OF JESUS AND MARY AND PERPETUAL ADORATION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT SECULAR BRANCH USA WEST

Edited and directed by JENNIFER HOGE in association with PREMIER IMAGE PRODUCTIONS, LLC



Photos and artwork provided courtesy of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts—Hawaii Archives, Congregation of the Sacred Hearts USA West, and SS.CC. Picpus
Damien’s transcribed writings made available to the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts USA West through “Damien of Molokai through his letters” by Osvaldo Aparicio

The SECULAR BRANCH of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts made it possible to produce this video.

For more information on the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary and of Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar, please write, call, or e-mail:

SS.CC. USA WEST PROVINCIAL OFFICE

PO BOX 668

San Dimas, Ca 91773

(909) 593-5441

ssccwest@cpl.net


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