TREMELO, Belgium — A bust of Father Damien in advanced stages of Hansen's disease was unveiled yesterday in front of his childhood home as part of celebrations in this small town to mark the elevation of the Sacred Hearts priest to sainthood.

Hundreds of Belgians, along with about 350 Hawai'i residents on a Damien pilgrimage in advance of his canonization, gathered around the home where Father Damien grew up to see the statue for the first time. When it was unveiled, the crowd erupted with applause.

Orange balloons and white streamers were sent into the air.

Many had positive comments on the statue, saying it shines a stark light on the disfigurement Father Damien suffered because of Hansen's disease, but also shows his caring nature with kind eyes and an expression that evokes both wisdom and a willingness to listen.

"It captured him," said Leighton Tseu of the Royal Order of Kamehameha.

The order presented two umeke, or calabashes, at a ceremony after the unveiling.

One will be donated to the Damien museum, which is in the priest's childhood home. The other will be given to the king and queen of Belgium, who were at the Tremelo festivities yesterday and attended a special Mass in Father Damien's honor that was attended by about 2,000 people.

'OFFERS HOPE'

The Mass, held in a big, white tent across from Father Damien's childhood home, was celebrated by Belgian Cardinal Godfried Danneels. Several Hansen's disease patients had parts in the Mass, as did Audrey Togu-chi, an 'Aiea woman whose cure from lung cancer after praying to Father Damien was the second miracle attributed to the priest, assuring his canonization.

Toguchi was brought to the stage to talk about her cure without treatment.

She told the capacity crowd that Damien "offers hope."

The Hansen's disease patients and other Islanders on the pilgrimage — which heads to Rome tomorrow — said honoring Father Damien in his hometown gave them chicken skin. Tremelo "feels sacred," said patient Norbert Palea, 68. "I feel his presence. I feel very spiritual."

Patient Barbara Marks said being in Tremelo made "everything so real."

She added, "It gives me goose bumps."

During the Mass, Danneels told the Hansen's disease patients that Belgium gave life to Damien, but that "you gave him back as a saint. You shouldn't thank us. We should thank you."

The Mass, which lasted about two hours, was the spiritual kickoff for a day's worth of festivities in Tremelo to celebrate Damien's canonization. The small town went all out for the event. Every house and business sported white flags bearing pictures of Father Damien. There was food, cultural entertainment and — at the end of the day — a show of fireworks.

Tremelo's mayor, Vital Von Dessel, said the celebration took more than six months to organize and cost more than $200,000 to put on. "He's somebody of this little village," he said. "It's something special."

Indeed, Damien is a big source of pride for Tremelo residents.

At least 250 of them will be at Damien's canonization on Sunday in St. Peter's Square, Von Dessel said. Meanwhile, he added, more and more people are coming to Tremelo to visit the place where Damien was born and raised. So far this year, about 30,000 people have visited the town. In an average year, Von Dessel said, about 6,000 people visit Tremelo.

HULA DRAWS CROWD

The festivities in Tremelo yesterday also included performances before hundreds by the hula halau traveling on the pilgrimage, along with Belgian dance troupes and choirs. Admission to the event cost about $3, and there were three shows planned. When the first show, with the Hawai'i contingent, let out, there was already a long line at the entrance to get in.

"Everyone is excited" about Damien, said Georges Pardon, a guide at the Damien museum.

He added that he isn't sure Father Damien would appreciate all the attention.

"He would still be working," he quipped.

The sculpture unveiled yesterday was donated to Tremelo by its sculptor, Andre Verbruggren. Before the statue was unveiled, U.S. Ambassador Howard Gutman gave a speech, during which he told attendees that he had contacted the White House about Damien's canonization to know whether the Hawai'i-born president knew of the priest.

Gutman said Obama not only knows about Damien, but that Damien inspired him.

Gutman added that presidents and children alike can learn a lot from Damien.

"We build statues not just to honor the past," Gutman said. "They remind us who we are."

Advertiser Staff writer Mary Vorsino is following 11 Hansen's disease patients from Kalaupapa and hundreds of other Hawai'i residents as they travel to Father Damien's birthplace in Belgium before heading to Rome for the canonization Sunday of Hawai'i's first saint.