When an epidemic of leprosy broke out in Hawaii in the 1800s, government leaders sent the infected to live in quarantine on the island of Molokai. There on “Devil’s Island,” little infrastructure existed, the strong preyed upon the weak, and anarchy reigned. Burdened by the plight of the lepers, a missionary named Damien De Veuster decided to go to Molokai to bring order to the chaos.
While many people know of St. Damien’s service on Molokai, there was another who cared for the lepers of Devil’s Island, whose service went on for decades: Joseph Dutton.
As we observe the 95th anniversary of Servant of God Joseph Dutton’s passing this year, we invite you to learn about his story and ongoing path to sainthood.
Early Years
On April 27, 1843, Joseph Dutton was born as Ira Barnes Dutton in Stowe, Vermont, to Protestant parents. Little is recorded about his early life except that he worked at a bookstore, helped in Sunday school, and enlisted in the Union Army. Serving in the 13th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment, he did not encounter much combat, but distinguished himself with his exceptional ability as a leader and administrator, earning the rank of captain.
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“The Decadent Decade”
After he left the army in 1866, he was married – but unfortunately, his wife was not to be trusted. She was unfaithful, and left him for another man only a year after they were wed.
For Ira, the years that followed seem to be colored by the restless sorrow of this tragedy. He worked in a variety of different professions – including as a distillery manager, a railroad worker, and a war department claims agent – excelling in all, but also developing a serious alcohol addiction. It wasn’t until 1876 that he realized something had to change, and vowed to give up alcohol forever. He remained true to his vow and started down a path of spiritual transformation.
Ira Joins the Catholic Church and Goes to Molokai
On April 27, 1883 – his 40th birthday – Ira joined the Catholic Church and took the name Joseph. For the next two and a half years, he lived a strict ascetic lifestyle, fasting and observing silence at the Trappist Monastery at the Abbey of Our Lady of Gethsemani in Kentucky. He felt a need to atone for his past years of dissolution, and yet, he couldn’t help feeling God had a different path for him than seclusion and self-denial. Within the next year, he made the radical decision to move to Hawaii after reading about Damien of Molokai’s ministry in a newspaper article.
Joseph left his possessions, took a train to San Francisco, and sailed to Kalawao, arriving in July 1886. Soon, he became one of Damien’s most valuable helpers. Whether assisting with gardening, cooking, building projects, accounting, or medical care, Joseph served eagerly for two years. He was so vital to the ministry work that Damien reportedly said in 1889: “I can die now. Brother Joseph will take care of my orphans.”
Joseph’s Final Days
True to Damien’s words, Joseph Dutton remained on Molokai to the end of his days, carrying on the work that Father Damien had begun. With funds from Henry Perrine Baldwin, in 1895, he founded the Baldwin Home for Men and Boys, and cared for those with leprosy for nearly 45 years, never contracting the disease himself. For the duration of his ministry, he refused to take any compensation, and donated his military pension to the monks of Gethsemani. Though he never took religious vows, he was received as a Secular Third Order Franciscan in 1892 at Marianne Cope’s request.
Following his death in Honolulu on March 26, 1931, Joseph Dutton was buried next to St. Damien at the St. Philomena Church, Kalawao. One of his final remarks is said to have been: “It has been a happy place — a happy life.”
The cause for Joseph Dutton’s canonization was opened on May 10, 2022, giving him the title “Servant of God.” At the Basilica, you can find him portrayed alongside St. Damien in the interior tympanum of the Western Façade.
Sources:
“Brother Joseph Dutton,” National Parks Service.
“Canonization cause for Joseph Dutton proceeds to Rome,” Hawaii Catholic Herald.
“Servant of God Joseph Dutton’s Cause for Canonization Sent to Vatican,” National Catholic Register.
“The incredible life of Joseph Dutton, a servant to the saints and souls of Hawaii,” Our Sunday Visitor.
“U.S. Bishops Affirm Advancement of the Cause of Beatification and Canonization of the Servant of God Joseph Dutton,” USCCB.
Additional images accessed via Wikimedia Commons.
