Armed with paint brushes, plastic bags and a strong work ethic, Damien Memorial School students fanned out into the community yesterday, following in the footsteps of their heroic namesake.

The students painted railings at St. Theresa's School, picked up rubbish at Kamehameha Community Park and Lanakila District Park, set up for a food drive at Palama Settlement and sorted items at thrift shops. In all, the 500 students in grades seven through 12 were involved in more than a dozen community projects as a tribute to Father Damien.

"It's really an honor for us to do this work," said James Andrade, an 11th-grader. "This is not even close to the work that Father Damien did, but it's an honor to go out and serve the community in that spirit."

Damien is being elevated to sainthood tomorrow at a service in Rome's Saint Peter's Square.

"We think it is fitting to honor Damien by doing the things he would be doing, without fanfare," said Bernard Ho, Damien Memorial School president and CEO.

"We wanted a day of service. We thought we needed to be active and not just about prayer."

Damien lived in Kalaupapa for 16 years ministering to the sick, mostly patients with Hansen's disease — the disease Damien died of.

A large contingent of Hawai'i residents, including 11 from Kalaupapa, is in Rome for a Father Damien pilgrimage.

About half a mile from the Kalihi school, Andrade and other 11th-graders picked up rubbish scattered around the grounds of the Kamehameha Community Park. Despite the hazy heat, the students' enthusiasm did not wane.

"Today is a milestone. The administration set this up and it was a good call," Andrade said. "It's nice to get out of the classroom and to do something active."

A short bus ride away, senior Stanton Pilialoha painted an old green iron railing at St. Theresa's School. That's the same railing some of Pilialoha's classmates held as youngsters before they moved on to Damien.

Pilialoha said, "We are trying to do what Father Damien did to the sick people. We're giving back to the community. This makes me feel good."

Mervin Uy recorded the students' effort with his digital camera yesterday.

"It's a good thing for the community," Uy said. "We're helping other people."