HONOLULU -- Mother Marianne Cope, who worked alongside Father Damien at Kalaupapa, was beatified four years ago. KITV has learned the Vatican is now investigating reports of a miracle that would qualify her for sainthood.

Along on Bishop Clarence Silva's pilgrimage to honor Damien in October will be a group of Saint Francis sisters with high hopes.

Beatification is a papal declaration of a person's blessedness. It is one step below canonization.

Damien's canonization will take place 120 years after his death. Sisters of the 3rd Order of Saint Francis hope their quest to gain recognition for Mother Marianne will take far fewer years.

The superior from Syracuse, NY Provincial, traveled to Hawaii with six sisters in 1883 to serve, first at the Kalihi leprosy substation, later in Kalaupapa.

Mother Marianne was the first person beatified, or made blessed by Pope Benedict XVI. She had one miracle approved by the Vatican that paved the way for the beatification. One more miracle, and she will be Hawaii's second saint.

"When I look at Father Damien and Mother Marianne, including Saint Francis, there's a common thread and that is unconditional love, deep faith as well as trust that they're doing will be taken care of," said Sister Alicia Lau, of the Order of Saint Francis.

Mother Marianne was a trained nurse and pharmacist. She served in Hawaii for 35 years until her death in 1918.

Damien's canonization will shed worldwide light on the patients of Kalaupapa and the people who devoted their lives caring for them, Lau said.

The life of Mother Marianne is undergoing the same investigation the Vatican launched to determine Damien's worthiness; that includes medical experts, legal authorities and spiritual leaders are working to confirm the existence of the miracle.