Who are the Saint Damien Boy Scouts?

On October 1, 2009, 9 Boy Scouts from Oahu left Hawaii to attend the festivities leading up to and including the Canonization of Blessed Fr. Damien de Veuster of Molokai. These boys left Honolulu and traveled to Tremelo, Belgium, the birthplace of Fr. Damien as well as the Vatican and Rome.

While on their journey, the boys video blogged, blogged, journaled, photographed, and chatted about the blessed events. Their focus was to educate children, Catholics and non-Catholics, about their faith, Sainthood, Hawaii’s ties with Belgium, Fr. Damien, and the people of Molokai.

The boys accomplished their mission….returning home on October 14, 2009.  Please continue to share our story about one of Hawaii’s greatest men, Saint Damien of Molokai.  Please share our videos, our stories and our photos. 

To become a friend on facebook, please add Damien de Veuster to your friends list. This will also give you access to even more commentary from all over the world.  It will also provide you the opportunity to befriend those who share the bond of St. Damien.

Aloha and Mahalo for your support.

To contact us, please email us at Saintdamienscouts@gmail.com.

John Fielding
Scout Master/Grand Knight, KofC Council 5000 OLP, Honolulu

The Boys and the Leaders

Zach F., Mr. John, Brad, Riggs, Patrick, Royce, Chris, Alex, Zach B., Nick, Mr. Kyle, Mr. Ross, and Mr. Joe

A Boy Scout Tradition – Final Night Campfire

As tradition dictates, we had a final campfire in Rome….though it was held inside, we made sure we followed tradition.  At the end Mr. John says a prayer for the boys.

Reflections Part 1

Part 1 of 5…last night in Rome.  The boys spent time reflecting on the trip, the fun they had, their lives, Boy Scouts, and their faith.  Very telling stories from our youth…if you have time, you should watch them all.

Reflections Part 2

Part 2 of 5…last night in Rome.  The boys spent time reflecting on the trip, the fun they had, their lives, Boy Scouts, and their faith.  Very telling stories from our youth…if you have time, you should watch them all.

Reflections Part 3

Part 3 of 5…last night in Rome.  The boys spent time reflecting on the trip, the fun they had, their lives, Boy Scouts, and their faith.  Very telling stories from our youth…if you have time, you should watch them all.

Reflections Part 4

Part 4 of 5…last night in Rome.  The boys spent time reflecting on the trip, the fun they had, their lives, Boy Scouts, and their faith.  Very telling stories from our youth…if you have time, you should watch them all.

Reflections Part 5

Part 5 of 5…last night in Rome.  The boys spent time reflecting on the trip, the fun they had, their lives, Boy Scouts, and their faith.  Very telling stories from our youth…if you have time, you should watch them all.

More to come…

In the next few days, we will be posting a lot more videos and photos of our experience.  Please come back to the site to see them. 

Saint Damien Scouts

L.A…..we are almost home.

We just arrived to our Hotel, when, off to the side, an unexpected suprise….Zach F’s Aunt Marie and Grandmother, as well as other members of his California family were waiting at the Hotel.  Scout Chris’ mother’s family also greeted us as we made our way to the City of Angels.  Both families were tracking our journy through the internet, and decided to show up to tell the boys how great their journy was and how it has touched them dearly.

Ad Altare Dei

Last night was a proud moment for the boys, they completed the requirements for their Ad Altare Dei.  This emblem is a very difficult emblem to attain in Scouting.  Each religious group has their own emblem, we  Catholics have the Ad Altare Dei.  Only one of the Catholic boys had their emblem before the trip.  Now, all eight will have achieved this honor.  Royce, our Protestant representative, worked hard too…joining in on some of the classes and helping out with different aspects of the requirements….too bad there is no emblem he may get outside of his own faith’s emblem, which, by the way, he will be workig on getting starting this December….as our Bishop says, it is important in providing Catholics with a good Catholic education, but it is also important to provide non-Catholics the same opportunty as well.

In good Scouting tradition, we celebrated their achievement….with gelato and pie…

Ciao Italia!

Yesterday, we left Italy.  It was a nice country to visit.  It is very different from Hawaii.  One way it is different, is the way you shop for food.  There is no Foodland or Star Market.  Instead, there are these community markets.  Where we were staying, Spinaceto, they had a wonderful community market.  Each vendor sells a different thing…meat, cheese, pasta, vegetables.  On our last day, we went back to the market to say Aloha to our new friends, many of whom gave us extra things to eat…like fresh mozzarella cheese.  Grazie and Ciao…