Press Release
A letter comes home:
Westminster Cathedral to host the handover of Father Damien’s letter to the Damien Museum, Tremelo
Westminster Cathedral to host the handover of Father Damien’s letter to the Damien Museum, Tremelo
On Tuesday 12 May 2026, Westminster Cathedral hosted a moment of rare historical and spiritual significance: the official handover of a letter written by Father Damien, St Damien of Moloka'i. The letter, which had been entrusted to the care of St Francis Leprosy Guild, was formally presented to the Director of the Damien Museum (Damiaanmuseum) in Tremelo, Belgium.
The ceremony, which took place during a special service at the Cathedral, marks the culmination of a journey that spans continents, centuries, and the enduring Christian call to serve those in need.
The letter, penned by Father Damien during his ministry on the island of Moloka'i, offers a direct and intimate connection to one of the Church’s most compelling saints.
Fr Damien, a Belgian priest of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, famously lived among, and ultimately died alongside, the community of people with leprosy who had been exiled to the Kalaupapa peninsula, on the island of Moloka'i. His life of radical solidarity has inspired generations of Christians, medical workers, and humanitarians.
St Francis Leprosy Guild, founded in 1895, is the UK’s only Catholic charity specifically dedicated to supporting people with leprosy worldwide, and has long safeguarded the letter as part of its historical archive.
The ceremony, which took place during a special service at the Cathedral, marks the culmination of a journey that spans continents, centuries, and the enduring Christian call to serve those in need.
The letter, penned by Father Damien during his ministry on the island of Moloka'i, offers a direct and intimate connection to one of the Church’s most compelling saints.
Fr Damien, a Belgian priest of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, famously lived among, and ultimately died alongside, the community of people with leprosy who had been exiled to the Kalaupapa peninsula, on the island of Moloka'i. His life of radical solidarity has inspired generations of Christians, medical workers, and humanitarians.
St Francis Leprosy Guild, founded in 1895, is the UK’s only Catholic charity specifically dedicated to supporting people with leprosy worldwide, and has long safeguarded the letter as part of its historical archive.
The decision to present the document to the Damien Museum reflects a deepening partnership between St Francis Leprosy Guild and the custodians of Damien’s legacy - ensuring the letter will be preserved, studied, and shared with pilgrims and scholars from around the world" said SFLG's Director, Katharine Jones.
Fr Patrick van der Vorst, Edward Reed and the Mayor of Tremelo
Father of mercy, in Blessed Damien you have given us a shining witness of love for the poorest and most abandoned. Grant that, by his intercession, as faithful witnesses of the heart of your Son Jesus, we too may be servants of the most needy and rejected. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, One God, for ever and ever." Feast Day of St Damien of Molokai
The handover ceremony at Westminster Cathedral brought together representatives of St Francis Leprosy Guild, the Damien Museum and a delegation from Tremelo. The celebrant was the Precentor of the Cathedral, Fr Patrick van der Vorst, who read as follows:
A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans (5, 1-8) 2
"Through our Lord Jesus Christ, by faith we are judged righteous and at peace with God, since it is by faith and through Jesus that we have entered this state of grace in which we can boast about looking forward to God's glory. But that is not all we can boast about; we can boast about our sufferings. These sufferings bring patience, as we know, and patience brings perseverance, and perseverance brings hope, and this hope is not deceptive because the love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit which has been given us. We were still helpless when at his appointed moment Christ died for sinful men. It is not easy to die even for a good man - though of course for someone really worthy, a man might be prepared to die - but what proves that God loves us is that Christ died for us while we were still sinners."
For St Francis Leprosy Guild, the handover was both a moment of thanksgiving and a renewal of purpose. The letter stands as a testament to Damien’s courage, compassion, and unwavering commitment to human dignity. Donating it to the museum dedicated to his life, in Tremelo where he was born, allows his story to be more widely known and supports greater understanding of our work.
As the letter is placed into the hands of its new custodians, it will symbolise not an ending but a continuation: the ongoing call to serve Christ amongst the poorest and most forgotten. In the spirit of St Damien, the Church remains committed to that mission.
The recently installed Archbishop of Westminster, the Most Reverend Richard Moth, has become the Patron of St Francis Leprosy Guild.
A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans (5, 1-8) 2
"Through our Lord Jesus Christ, by faith we are judged righteous and at peace with God, since it is by faith and through Jesus that we have entered this state of grace in which we can boast about looking forward to God's glory. But that is not all we can boast about; we can boast about our sufferings. These sufferings bring patience, as we know, and patience brings perseverance, and perseverance brings hope, and this hope is not deceptive because the love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit which has been given us. We were still helpless when at his appointed moment Christ died for sinful men. It is not easy to die even for a good man - though of course for someone really worthy, a man might be prepared to die - but what proves that God loves us is that Christ died for us while we were still sinners."
For St Francis Leprosy Guild, the handover was both a moment of thanksgiving and a renewal of purpose. The letter stands as a testament to Damien’s courage, compassion, and unwavering commitment to human dignity. Donating it to the museum dedicated to his life, in Tremelo where he was born, allows his story to be more widely known and supports greater understanding of our work.
As the letter is placed into the hands of its new custodians, it will symbolise not an ending but a continuation: the ongoing call to serve Christ amongst the poorest and most forgotten. In the spirit of St Damien, the Church remains committed to that mission.
The recently installed Archbishop of Westminster, the Most Reverend Richard Moth, has become the Patron of St Francis Leprosy Guild.
Fr Damien's letter
More about Father Damien of Moloka'i can found in this extract from our Autumn Newsletter 2025 below.
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For more information please contact:
Katharine Jones
Director
St Francis Leprosy Guild
Tel: +44 (0)7754 592240
Email: [email protected]
Twitter @StLeprosy
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Katharine Jones
Director
St Francis Leprosy Guild
Tel: +44 (0)7754 592240
Email: [email protected]
Twitter @StLeprosy
