Damien Making a Difference, God Making a Saint (2010)

movie

Country: N/A
Genres: Documentary, History
Release: 2010-04-25
Director: Jennifer Hoge
Writers: Jennifer Hoge , Stephany Reh
Language: English
Stars: Thomas F. Wilson , Mike Laponis
Runtime: 47 min
Awards: 1 win.
AKA: Damien Making a Difference, God Making a Saint (United States of America) , Damien Making a Difference, God Making a Saint
Plot: The touch of God is the heroic sanctity that transforms impossible situations. With it comes gifts and blessings, as well as suffering and the cross. Damien de Veuster's life is an example of how his total gift of self brought the touch of God to what seemed like an impossible situation. Leprosy is a chronic bacterial disease that causes permanent damage to the skin, nerves, limbs and eyes when left untreated. An effective treatment was not established until the 1930's. Leprosy had come to the Sandwich Islands (now known as the Hawaiian Islands) through trading ships at the ports around 1840. Hawaii was isolated and the locals had not built up an immunity to it. It became an epidemic and an establishment was set up in Kalawao to quarantine those suffering from the disease. The people were taken away from their families and were isolated in the settlement. The government didn't care if they lived or died. Those forced to leave their home and start again in Kalawao, lacked all basic necessities and were expected to fend for themselves. There was no where for them to live, no food for them to eat, no medical care, and no law. At the age of 33, Damien, a priest of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, was sent to minister to these people. He built homes and churches, provided basic medical care, built an aqueduct, and fought the government for clothing, supplies, and livestock. Fr. Damien brought faith to the community, teaching about Perpetual Adoration, Eternal Life, and Eucharist. This film reflects on the story of Fr. Damien and how the touch of God was evident from the beginning of his life, though his call to belong to the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts, the circumstances of being sent to the Sandwich Islands prior to his ordination, his call to Molokai, his devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, his loneliness on the island, and his total gift of self that led to him contracting the disease and die from it. The film combines narration and commentary with Fr. Damien's own words, taken from journal writings and letters. This heart wrenching true story is about one man's total abandonment of things of the world so he could live for Christ. His total gift of self enabled the touch of God to work through him, bringing hope to the hopeless. The reflections of the members of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, provide explanations of Damien's religious practices and terminology, as well as to show specifically how the touch of God was evident throughout his life from the very beginning.
IMDB:tt1534012