Well aware of how quickly the fickle attention of a media-driven society can be diverted, the Rev. Mark Alexander devoted yesterday's Mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace in Downtown to reinforcing the lessons of Damien de Veuster's life and challenging parish members to carry on the newly canonized saint's legacy.

In his first address to his followers since the canonization ceremony yesterday morning in Rome, Alexander encouraged the overflow crowd to act upon Damien's example.

"We must not allow the celebration of Father Damien's canonization to leave our hearts untouched and our lives untransformed, otherwise he would indeed be very, very disappointed," Alexander said.

"The challenge today is clear: to make sure our spiritual roots are nourished well by the word of God and the sacraments and to make sure that we do see the face of Christ in all whom we encounter; that no one — no one — is ever a stranger in all our brothers and sisters; and to make sure we love generously with the same kind of love that has brought to us all hope, joy and peace in the risen Christ," Alexander said.

The noon Sunday Mass was attended by hundreds of parish members, including many who had not been to the church in some time. With pews packed tightly, latecomers lined the walls and filled the back of the cathedral.

Some showed signs of having stayed up late watching the live telecast of the canonization, which began at 10 p.m. Saturday, Hawai'i time.

Mildred Jacoby, 77, of Kapolei, said it was "like heaven" to attend Mass in the church where Damien was ordained and where a relic — part of his remains — will be permanently housed.

Jacoby, who was born and raised in the Philippines, said she first heard of Damien while attending Cornell University in New York. She said she always knew that he would one day become a saint.

Jacoby said she was especially taken with Alexander's message.

"I thought about all the shortcomings and problems I have and how to resolve them," she said. "I also thought about all of the poor and the people that we sometimes neglect. Now it's time that we do something."

Nine-year-old Ashley Lardizabal of Kalihi is well versed in the life and legacy of Damien, thanks to her studies at St. Theresa Catholic School.

"He was very brave," Ashley said. "I feel very special that Hawai'i has their first saint."

'EYE-OPENING'

Alonso Rosado of Del Rio, Texas, had heard of Damien before and took advantage of his visit to Hawai'i to join in the celebration.

"I came to give thanks to the Lord, which is something we do, but it's also a special day, so we decided to come to the cathedral and celebrate this special occasion," he said. "It's really a unique moment in time to be in the cathedral where Father Damien was ordained and to join the celebration with all of the people here. It's been an eye-opening experience for me."

Alexander said he hopes that people will take the inspiration they felt from Damien's canonization and apply it to helping others.

"I think we have to ask ourselves who are the people that we ostracize today that we choose to ignore or forget," Alexander said after the Mass. "There are people like that still today: the unborn, those who are very sick, the elderly, the poor, but also, closer to home, those that are suffering great economic hardship, those who are suffering silently as they struggle to keep marriages together and to take care of food and shelter."

Alexander said Damien's concern for and acceptance of others makes him an especially appropriate representative of Hawai'i.

"He was a humanitarian's humanitarian," he said. "He really lived out what it means to see the human in everyone and to be generous in reaching out to those in need. When you see that sort of unselfish, unconditional love, one is moved.

"The other thing was that he was strong in his beliefs, but he did not impose them on anyone," he said. "He respected people of different faiths."

Alexander called Damien's canonization a "feel-good story" that is especially resonant today.

"We can love like Father Damien did," he said. "We can reach out to our neighbors and the strangers in our midst, just like he did."