Holy Name Cathedral hosts Wayne Messmer portraying ‘Damien’

When Wayne Messmer slips into the role of St. Damien of Molokai on March 2 at Holy Name Cathedral, he will be renewing his experience of a person who has long been important to him.

Messmer is perhaps best known in Chicago for his performance of the national anthem at sports events, but he was interested in St. Damien long before that. Before, even, Damien was considered a saint.

“Strangely enough, it was a grade school project,” said Messmer, who attended Five Holy Martyrs School in the Brighton Park neighborhood. “We had to do a book report and find a historical figure who inspired us.”

His teachers were Franciscan sisters like St. Marianne Cope, who worked with Father Damien in serving the leper colony on Molokai in the Hawaiian islands. The teachers spoke about Mother Marianne and Father Damien, so Messmer was aware of the story.

The more he read and learned, the more impressed he was by the Belgian priest’s commitment to serve the victims of Hansen’s disease who were isolated on a peninsula in Molokai. Father Damien served on Molokai from 1873 until his death in 1899. He began to show signs of Hansen’s disease, formerly known as leprosy, in 1884.

“I studied and studied and did a rather lengthy report, and he just became my personal hero,” Messmer said.

That would have been in the early 1960s, long before Pope Paul VI declared Father Damien “venerable.” He was beatified by St. John Paul II in 1995, and canonized by Pope Benedict XVI in 2009.

By then, Messmer was already performing the one-man play “Damien,” written by Aldyth Morris in 1977.

Messmer had been using Damien as an example since childhood, he explained, because of Damien’s dedication and commitment to his mission.

“I was a very devout altar boy and just loved the Catholic faith, still do, and I would read the lives of the saints, and I thought this guy was even more than a saint,” Messmer said. “The poor people, those who were just exiled once they were diagnosed with Hansen’s disease — I would hate to be in that situation, and I would hope someone would help me. I mean, here are these people who are literally exiled in paradise. Molokai is beautiful but it’s tragic. … I certainly couldn’t be Damien, but I could try to emulate or copy his character, with kindness, every day. To be aware of those who have been silenced for one reason or another.”

Messmer himself was silenced in 1994, when he was shot in the throat by a teenager after leaving a restaurant. As he recovered, he prayed to Damien, and, he said, he knew Damien was listening.

It was after that that someone showed him the play. After Messmer and his wife, Kathleen, reworked parts of it, he began performing it.

Now Messmer mostly performs “Damien” in churches, he said, usually using the worship space and the altar as part of the set.

He’s especially looking forward to the performance at Holy Name Cathedral because of the setting.

“To do it at that amazing altar, under that fantastic resurrection cross,” Messmer said. “And standing at the altar, looking out into the congregation … I’ll have the best view.”

Deacon Dan Welter, who arranged the performance as part of Holy Name Cathedral’s 175th anniversary celebrations, said he is pleased that a generous gift from the rector, Father Greg Sakowicz, means general admission tickets can be offered at no charge. There is an option for a light supper before the 7:30 p.m. show and preferred seating for $15. In either case, tickets are required, Welter said.

Messmer said he will keep performing to share the story of St. Damien of Molokai as long as he can.

“The story needs to be told, but more important, it needs to be heard so that it inspires people,” he said. “There was a real person who gave his life for his fellow man and in the calling of faith. … It’s tremendously powerful. As an actor, I’m not just speaking the words, I’m channeling the person.”

To reserve tickets for “Damien” at Holy Name Cathedral, visit tinyurl.com/DamienPlay.