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Science and Sanctity: Chaminade University Recovers Final Relics of St. Marianne Cope
HONOLULU — More than a century after her death among the "exiles" of Moloka‘i, St. Marianne Cope is once again bringing a community together—this time through a unique intersection of forensic science and spiritual devotion.
In a landmark collaboration, Chaminade University’s Forensic Sciences Unit has been entrusted by the Diocese of Honolulu to recover the final earthly remains of the "Beloved Mother" of Kalaupapa. The project marks the first time the Marianist institution has assisted the Church in the delicate task of identifying and preparing first-class relics.
A Mission of Veneration
The initiative was spurred by Bishop Clarence “Larry” Silva, who expressed a desire for every Hawaiian island to possess a relic of the state’s two canonized saints, Damien de Veuster and Marianne Cope.
"One of our pastors suggested that each island should have a relic," Bishop Silva said during a visit to the Chaminade lab. "We want to make sure the other islands [beyond Oahu and Moloka‘i] do... We’ll be able to do that now with these bone fragments."
The Precision of Faith and Science
While St. Marianne’s primary remains were interred at the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Peace in 2014, hundreds of small bone fragments remained embedded in the acidic, volcanic soil of her original gravesite.
Leading the recovery is forensic anthropologist Vincent Sava, who originally led the exhumation of the saint in 2005. To process the remaining soil—carefully preserved by the Sisters of St. Francis over the years—Sava turned to Carlos Gutiérrez Ayala, Director of Chaminade’s Forensic Sciences Unit.
The work is grueling and requires a "sacred patience":
Sifting: Soil is passed through multiple layers of screens to isolate small particles.
Microscopic Analysis: Students use microscopes to distinguish bone from volcanic rock and dirt.
Extraction: Fragments are painstakingly placed into vials for the Church’s future use.
"This is a special situation," Gutiérrez noted. "We usually work with crimes to help victims; in this case, it’s a different way to serve the community through forensic analysis."
A Labor of Love for Students
For the students involved, the project is more than a clinical exercise; it is an encounter with a hero of the faith. Junior forensic science major Samantha Casarrubias and fellow student Emma Rosales volunteered their three-day weekend for the "tedious but good" work.
"Yesterday, I was here from 9 a.m. to almost 4, and I haven’t even filled a petri dish yet," Casarrubias shared, highlighting the meticulous nature of honoring a saint’s remains.
The Legacy of the "Healer of Moloka‘i"
Born Barbara Koob in 1838, St. Marianne left a comfortable life in New York to answer King Kalākaua’s plea for medical aid in the islands. Alongside St. Damien, she transformed the settlement at Kalaupapa into a place of dignity, beauty, and hygiene for those suffering from Hansen’s disease (leprosy).
"She was very much a healer," Bishop Silva remarked. "It’s due to her faith that she trusted in God that she could do this very challenging work."
Once the fragments are fully processed, they will be returned to the Diocese. These tiny pieces of history will soon travel across the Pacific, ensuring that the "Spirit of Moloka‘i" continues to intercede for the people of Hawai‘i on every shore.
Source: https://chaminade.edu/chaminade-university-forensic-sciences-lab-secures-last-remains-of-saint-marianne-of-molokai/
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