Father Damian of Molokai

As a class discuss the questions:

1. What attitude do you think Jesus had to wealth and power?
2. Who do you think Christians should be known more for associating with – the needy or the successful?
3. Have you ever taken a risk to help someone in need?
4. Have you ever felt completely alone?

Students read the description of leprosy and view the image of children with leprosy before describing what it would feel like to receive a leprosy diagnosis and to be sent away from your family. (Father Damian of Molokai Slides)

Watch the documentary excerpt ‘The leper priest’ (4:55) and discuss what stands out to them.

Students create an image of what they think the leper colony on Molokai was like before the arrival of Fr. Damien.

Students produce a short written response explaining:

1. how they think Father Damian would’ve initially reacted to the things in their pictures.
2. what it might have been like for him when his brother was unable to go to Hawaii.
3. how they think they would’ve reacted in that situation – and contrasting it with Father Damian.

• Clip: The Hunger Games (3:36)

Show the ‘Hunger Games’ clip and discuss what is similar or different from Father Damian’s story, inviting students to consider what is most challenging about Father Damian’s choices and actions.

In small groups students discuss how they personally react to disease, disfigurement or disability.

Display the quote from Prof. Edwin Judge and discuss how helpful this definition of compassion is. Students reflect on the degree to which Father Damien displayed this kind of compassion on Molokai, and how he might respond to someone who said that he wasted his life. (Father Damian of Molokai Slides)

Students read the account of Jesus healing a leper in Mark 1:40-42 and washing his disciples’ feet in John 13:1-15.

Students consider who they let touch them, who they are willing to touch, and how hard it is to touch a stranger before answering the following questions:

1. What is shocking about the way Jesus treats the man with leprosy?
2. What is shocking about Jesus’ actions in the passage from John? (Especially in light of v.3)
3. What can we learn about Jesus from both these passages?
4. How did Father Damien follow the example of Jesus in …
   • His decision to go to and stay on Molokai?
   • The way he cared for the lepers?
   • His attitude when faced with the prospect of his own death from leprosy?
5. After washing his disciples’ feet, what does Jesus tell them to do? Is he just talking about literal foot-washing, or is there a bigger principle behind this?

In small groups students role play a news interview about life on Molokai in the 1870s. They choose one student to be the reporter who conducts interviews with Father Damien and several lepers (other students) about their experiences there and impressions of Father Damien.

Students compose a speech for the unveiling of a Father Damien statue, explaining how he followed the example of Jesus and modelled compassion.

(Possible opening line prompt: “Gandhi once said, ‘the political and journalistic world can boast of very few heroes who compare to Father Damien. The Catholic Church, on the contrary, counts [them] by the thousands. It is worthwhile to look for the sources of such heroism.”)

Students create an image of what a modern day ‘Father Damian’ might look like, reflecting on the challenge to themselves, and how they could show compassion now or in the future.

Display the Nick Spencer (Theos Think Tank) quote and discuss how true this is. (Why or why not?) (Father Damian of Molokai Slides)

In small groups students research a charity in Australia that is involved in caring for the sick. Create a set of slides outlining the work they do, the principles and motivations behind their work, and some testimonials from someone who has been impacted by their organisation.