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The Rev. Michael Lapsley, an Anglican priest from South Africa who lost both hands in retaliation for opposing apartheid policies, will appear at events on Oahu from Tuesday through June 14. Most events are free and open to the public.
Upon his arrival, Lapsley will hold a private workshop for women in drug treatment and female prisoners in a work furlough program, said Linda Rich, executive director of the Salvation Army Family Treatment Services.
A reception in Lapsley’s honor will be held June 9 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. Andrew in the Von Holt Room. He will sign his recently published book, "Redeeming the Past: My Journey from Freedom Fighter to Healer."
On June 10 at St. Andrew’s, he will deliver sermons at 8 and 10:30 a.m. and speak at the dean’s forum at 9:15 a.m., Rich said.
The Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution will sponsor a brown-bag lunch/ forum June 14 on "Restorative Justice and Rehabilitation" from noon to 1 p.m. in Room 207 of Ali‘iolani Hale, 417 S. King St. To reserve a seat, request disability-related accommodations or get directions, call the center at 539-4237.
Lapsley, a native of New Zealand, moved to South Africa in 1973 to work for the overturn of the government policy of apartheid. In 1990, while in exile in Zimbabwe, he received a letter bomb from the apartheid regime. He lost both hands and sight in one eye.
In 1998 he formed the Institute for Healing of Memories, an outgrowth of his work as a chaplain of the Trauma Centre for Victims of Violence and Torture in Cape Town, South Africa, following the end of apartheid.