On Oct. 11, Father Damien de Veuster, who ministered to the ill of Kalaupapa when no one else would, will join those in the hallowed ranks bearing the title of "Saint."

Only eight such people who did their good works on American soil have been so honored by the Roman Catholic Church, and it's the first time any of Hawai'i's good souls will have earned the title.

For Bishop Larry Silva, the news means a time of rejoicing. "It is upon us. Thanks be to God," he declared, just a few minutes after hearing the news in Rome from Pope Benedict XVI himself.

Yesterday's announcement represented probably the most significant event in Hawai'i's modern religious history. It sets in motion celebrations and ceremonies of thanksgiving across the Islands, and a scramble to arrange pilgrimages to Rome and Belgium, where Damien was born.

For Randy King of Seawind Tours, the announcement set off a flurry of activity. He had been set to go live for what he had anticipated would be an Oct. 18 date that would allow him to confirm weeks of planning. Instead, after learning of the Oct. 11 canonization, he was on the phone all night, changing reservations and planning for what's expected to be a crowd of 500.

"I got a few hours sleep," a bleary-eyed King said before yesterday morning's news conference that drew representatives from Damien's Sacred Hearts Order, the diocese, even the woman whose miraculous cure from cancer assured Damien's ascent.

Silva was in Rome attending the consistory in the Clementine Hall of the papal apartments, where about 300 gathered to hear the pope announce dates for 10 saints-to-be. Half will be canonized April 26, the rest — including Damien and an Olivetan Benedictine founder, Bernardo Tolomei (1272-1348) — in the fall.

"I was just glad it was the later date," King joked.

Silva called the consistory "exciting ... a wonderful, joyful occasion."

For Catholics, saints are important because they can intercede on your behalf, not only praying with you but for you, the Rev. Herman Gomes said.

Saints play another key function, Silva said: "The reason we canonize saints is so we ourselves can be holy and dedicate ourselves to serving. It's a way to remind us to be close to the Lord, to respond to his voice, to listen to the poor, the needy, and to be an advocate. ... Those are all things we need to be committed to. It's an occasion for us to be renewed to our mission to be faithful to the Lord, to do his work and to be saints the way Damien is a saint."

Now, the planning is in high gear for the commission charged with planning events for Hawai'i, during the canonization as well as upon Silva's return. Some 486 people have already requested information and scores more are expected to do so. Those who are already Rome-bound also have trips to Belgium and Assisi on their itineraries. Besides the must-sees of the Eternal City — the Vatican, the Forum, the Pantheon — there will be Masses aplenty.

The tours are being heralded as a pilgrimage for about 500. The "bishop's tour" departs Oct. 1 for Belgium, visiting Damien's tomb in Louvain and a villagewide celebration in his nearby birthplace, Tremelo. On Oct. 6, the Rome leg begins and includes a vigil Mass the night before the canonization, a Mass at the Basilica led by Silva and two Masses on Oct. 12 — a Hawaiian Mass and a Mass of Thanksgiving.

If the commission and Sacred Hearts order here have their way, a pre-canonization program in Belgium or Rome — or both — will include Hawai'i flourishes: Hawaiian music by a local choir, tropical flowers and "liturgical gestures" such as hula hand movements.

"Don't call it hula," said the Rev. Chris Keahi, provincial of the order here, referring to the 1995 issue facing then-Honolulu Bishop Francis X. DiLorenzo, who specially requested "liturgical movement" because any form of dance during Mass is strictly verboten.

Representatives of Benedict, known to be a stickler for rules, have already turned down requests to have a Kalaupapa resident bestow a gift to the pope, said the Rev. Lane Akiona. And no Hawaiian song or liturgical movements will be included during the actual canonization, added Akiona, who just returned from a planning trip to Rome with King.

"It's part of Benedict's style," he said. "He wants everything clear-cut. ... Our portion will be before Mass begins."

Mother Marianne Cope — who served at Kalaupapa and died in 1918 — also will be there in spirit, represented with a trip to Assisi. Sister Helene Wood, who helps oversee sainthood issues here, said Mother Marianne, already beatified, is awaiting the confirmation of another miracle to be canonized.

Definitely planning to be in attendance in Rome is Audrey Toguchi, the 'Aiea woman whose cure from cancer a decade ago was the miracle needed to elevate Damien to sainthood. She, her husband and four other family members plan to be there, she said.

Accommodations also will be made for any of the approximately 25 Kalaupapa settlement residents able to travel, though that number continues to dwindle. The diocese has already begun seeking donations to pay their way.

"Father Damien would probably roll over in his grave at all this," the Rev. Marc Alexander said. "He'd tell us to use the money to help people."