A tentative travel itinerary has been set for a relic of Father Damien de Veuster following his canonization (entry into Roman Catholic sainthood) Oct. 11 in Rome.

Bishop Larry Silva of the Roman Catholic diocese here explained that a relic is a piece of bone of a saint or a "blessed" (the step before sainthood) and is venerated by Catholics. It is often customary for relics of newly named saints to be processioned through places of importance in the saint's life and the life of the church.

Damien was first buried in 1889 at Kalaupapa, where he had served the Hansen's disease community and where he died of the disease that was called leprosy at the time. In 1936, his body was moved back to his native Louvain, Belgium. In 1995, when he was declared Blessed Damien, a relic was sent to the Islands to be re-interred in his original grave.

Following the canonization, the second relic will be given a permanent home at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace in Honolulu, where Damien was ordained in 1864.

Silva expressed the hope that the relic will inspire people to "grow in love with God and to serve the most needy among us with his spirit of faith and love."

The relic will be received by Silva in Rome on Oct. 11 and will visit a number of Mainland cities, from Newark, N.J., to Oakland, Calif., between Oct. 13 and Oct. 17. Then it will travel through Hawai'i as follows:

Oct. 18 to 20, West Hawai'i

Oct. 21 to 23, East Hawai'i

Oct. 24 to 26, Maui

Oct. 27, Lana'i

Oct. 28 to 29, Kaua'i

Oct. 30 Moloka'i topside

Oct. 31, Kalaupapa

Nov. 1, Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace, Honolulu, for noon Mass; interfaith youth service, 1:30-3:30 p.m. at 'Iolani Palace, followed by procession back to Our Lady of Peace with stops at the Lili'uokalani and Damien statues at the state Capitol

Nov. 2, West Honolulu

Nov. 3, East Honolulu

Nov. 5, Leeward O'ahu

Nov. 6, Pilgrimage Day, from Windward O'ahu to the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace

Details of the visits will be announced at a later time.

Father Damien's relic, inside a closed container, will be accompanied at all times by Silva or a priest.