The bishop of Honolulu, Hawaii joined the King and Queen of Belgium, and Belgian government officials, in a mass celebrating the life of a 19th century Flemish Roman Catholic priest who will be canonized as a saint next week. The service took place on Sunday in the town of Tremelo, where the priest, Father Damien, grew up. 
The mass was an open air one attended by thousands of devout Catholics, King Albert II and Queen Paola being one of them.
Next week, when Pope Benedict XVI canonizes Father Damien, the King and Queen would be present.
Father Damien was doing missionary work in Hawaii, when he began working with lepers on the island of Molokai. Even when he was told to cease his work directly by the Vatican, Father Damien continued to help the sick until his own death from leprosy in 1889.
He was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1995. But when Audrey Toguchi of Aiea, Oahu was cured of terminal cancer by praying to the priest, that elevated Father Damien to sainthood, according to the Catholic Church.
To see video of the mass, click here
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