China Collections Guide

Maryknoll co-founders Father James A. Walsh and Father Thomas F. Price both believed China was the place where Catholic missionaries were most needed in the world. They founded Maryknoll in 1911 to pursue training American priests and Brothers as missionaries to China. On Christmas Day 1917, Archbishop de Guebriant (Superior General of the Paris Foreign Mission Society) agreed to cede a portion of his Society’s Canton Mission in China to Maryknoll. Approval came from the Sacred Congregation of Propaganda Fide in Rome.

In 1918, Maryknoll took over a large segment of Kwangtung Province as its first mission. This portion of the province was known as the Kongmoon Mission. Early on, Father Walsh decided Maryknoll needed a headquarters in Hong Kong so the missioners would have somewhere to send mail, buy supplies, go to the hospital, have a vacation, and so on. In 1920, Maryknoll rented its first procure (headquarters) in Hong Kong, and in 1926 built a permanent procure in Stanley, a town on Hong Kong Island. Maryknoll’s missions in mainland China expanded during the 1920s and 1930s. By 1940, Maryknoll Fathers, Brothers, and Sisters were stationed in the mission territories of Kongmoon, Wuchow, Kweilin, Kaying, Shanghai, and Fushun.

The main goal of the Maryknollers in China prior to 1954 was to convert people to Catholicism, and they went about this in several ways. The first step was to introduce the locals to Maryknoll. The Maryknollers did this by getting to know local people personally and telling them about Catholicism. Then, the Maryknollers began catechism classes to teach interested people about the Church. Maryknoll began many catechism schools to train local Catholics in how to teach the catechism – these new catechists could then teach Catholicism to other people. Alongside catechism lessons, Maryknollers usually began a ministry such as a medical dispensary, orphanage, or school to both provide a service to the people and demonstrate the values of Christianity. 

There were also specific ways the different Maryknollers interacted with the people and got them interested in converting. The Fathers conducted church services, performed sacraments like marriage and baptism, and established several seminaries to train Chinese men to become priests. The Brothers constructed churches and led vocational programs to teach skills like wood carving and mechanics. The Sisters created women’s groups, elementary schools, novitiates to train Chinese women to become nuns, and sewing businesses.

The Maryknoll Sisters joined the Fathers and Brothers in China in 1921. They worked with the men in mainland China in ministries like catechetics, orphanages, schools, and medical dispensaries. The Sisters specialized in ministering to local women and children, who were often more inclined to interact with the women than the men. The Sisters also established a headquarters in Hong Kong and began ministries there including elementary schools, a sewing business, and medical clinics for the poor. 

In the early years of Maryknoll’s presence in China, Maryknoll Lay Missioners also worked alongside the Fathers, Brothers, and Sisters. Dr. Harry Blaber was the first Lay Missioner to join Maryknoll’s efforts as a physician to the missions from 1930 to 1935. Dr. Blaber saw upwards of fifty patients a day at his clinic, treating all sorts of illnesses. This clinic grew into Toishan Sacred Heart Hospital in 1932, treating 13,000 patients a year. With the new hospital came two new doctors, Dr. Chan of Canton and Dr. Bagalawis of Manila. The three doctors worked at the hospital and at the new dispensaries they founded in towns near the hospital. Dr. Blaber also founded a nursing school and helped found a Maryknoll-administered leper colony. After returning to the US to marry his fiancee Constance White, Dr. and Mrs. Blaber went back to China to resume their medical work. But the Blabers had to return to the US in 1937, leaving the hospital in the care of Dr. Chan and Dr. Bagalawis. Although the hospital closed during World War II, it reopened in 1947 under the direction of two Maryknoll Sisters and with Dr. Bagalawis on staff.

As World War II began, Maryknoll’s ministries became even more important. Maryknollers provided food, housing, jobs, and medical aid to refugees fleeing violence from across mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau. This work continued after the war, as the Communist Party gained power and created policies which made life for the Maryknollers very difficult. Many Maryknollers were harassed, arrested, imprisoned, or expelled from China by Communist forces. By 1954, it became too unsafe for any Maryknollers to continue life in mainland China, and so these missioners moved to new stations in Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and beyond.

In the 1950s and 1960s, Maryknoll’s work in Hong Kong and Macau focused on education and services for refugees and the poor. The Fathers, Brothers, and Sisters operated and expanded schools to serve the huge influx of refugee children; the Fathers and Brothers operated food relief centers and vocational schools; and the Sisters began pastoral ministry programs to help people find jobs and housing, and opened several clinics and a new hospital. 

Beginning in the 1970s, the Maryknollers in Hong Kong began more specialized ministries. Beyond operating schools and staffing parishes, the Fathers and Brothers began ministries to university students, advocating for human rights, and staffing social communications programs. The Sisters continued operating schools, held jobs in diocesan pastoral centers and community welfare centers, taught religion in parishes, and worked as community organizers and medical providers. From 1982 to 2021, the Sisters also expanded their mission to Macau, working with diocesan pastoral ministry offices. When mainland China opened to foreigners in the 1980s, Maryknollers took the opportunity to begin new ministries there, primarily in education. Many Maryknollers have worked in universities teaching English and other specialized subjects, and others have conducted research throughout China on the Chinese Church. Maryknollers continue to work in these ministries in Hong Kong and China today. 

Canton: City now known as Guangzhou. The Maryknoll Fathers worked at Lingham University 1947-1956.

Chungking: City now known as Chongqing, located between Sichuan and Hubei Provinces. The Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers and Maryknoll Sisters operated procures here during WWII to maintain communications with missioners in mainland China.

Fushun Mission: Segment of Manchuria (Liaoning Province) with administrative center in Fushun City. Work began in 1927. Established as a Prefecture Apostolic in 1932, elevated to a Vicariate Apostolic in 1940, and elevated to a Diocese in 1946. Includes the mission locations of Antung, Antung (Japanese Mission), Antung (Korean Mission), Antung (Manchu Mission), Ch’a-Kou, Ch’ao-Yang-Chen, Ch’iao T’ou, Ch’ing-Tui-Tze, Ch’ing-Yuan-Hsien, Dairen, Dairen (Chinese Mission), Dairen (Japanese Mission), Eul-Pa-Tan/Her-Pa-Tan, Fushun, Fushun (Ho-Nan), Fushun (Ho-Pei), Fushun (Japanese Mission), Fushun (Korean Mission), Ha-Ma-Ho, Heng-T’ung-Shan-Tze, Hsing-King, Hsin-Pin, Lin Kiang, Linkiang, Shan-Ch’eng-Tze, Shing-king, T’ung-hua, and Tung-She. Maryknoll left Fushun in 1951.

Hong Kong: Territory of the UK 1842-1997, currently a special administrative region of China. The Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers began work here in 1920 and the Maryknoll Sisters in 1921. Their ministries include education, healthcare, refugee relief, vocational schools, businesses, scholarly research, prayer ministry, pastoral care, parish ministry, and others.

Kaying Mission: Segment of eastern Kwangtung (Guangdong) Province with administrative center in Kaying (Meixian) City. Work began in 1925. Established as a Prefecture Apostolic in January 1929 and elevated to a Vicariate Apostolic in 1935. Includes the mission locations of Aupoe, Chiuling, Chong Pou/Chongpu, Chuktaoshin, Chungsun, Fayong, Hingning, Hokshiha, Hoping, Kaying/Meihsien, Kopi, Laofuheo, Lienping, Lim Tsai, Lumchai, Lung Wen, Ng Fa, Petiutsai/Pet Teuo Tsai/Petteoutsai, Samhopa, Sekhang, Shac Tseng/Shakchin, Shuichai, Siao Lok/Siao-lok/Siaolok, Taipu, Tongshunchai, Tsaihang, Tsungkow, Tungshek, Vontong, and Vounaihang. Maryknoll left Kaying in 1952.

Kongmoon Mission: Segment of Kwangtung (Guangdong) Province with administrative center in Kongmoon (Jiangmen) City. Work began in 1918. Established as a Prefecture Apostolic in January 1924 and elevated to a Vicariate Apostolic in February 1927. Includes the mission locations of Chikkai, Chiklung, Dosing, Fachow, Hoingan, Kochow, Kongmoon, Kwonghoi, Loking, Loting, Lung Woh/Lungwoh, Ngai MoonPakkai, Sancian Island, Sunchong, Sunwui, Taan On/Tanon, Taipat, Toishan, Tung On/Tungon, Tungchen, Tung-Ngon, Wanfu, and Yeungkong/Yeung Kong. Maryknoll left Kongmoon in 1952.

Kunming: Capital of Yunnan Province. The Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers and Maryknoll Sisters operated houses here during WWII for missioners who were unable to return to their missions.

Kweilin Mission: Segment of Kwangsi (Guangxi) Province with administrative center in Kweilin (Guilin) City. Work began in 1937. Established as a Prefecture Apostolic in 1938. Includes the mission locations of Chuanchow, Kweilin, Laipo, Pinglo, Tungan, and Yungfu. Maryknoll left Kweilin in 1954.

Macau: Territory of Portugal 1557-1999, currently a special administrative region of China. The Maryknoll Sisters worked in refugee relief here 1942-1957 and in pastoral and social work ministries 1982-2021.

Shanghai: The Maryknoll Sisters staffed Shanghai Mercy Hospital 1936-1938. The Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers operated a procure here 1946-1951.

Wuchow Mission: Segment of Kwangsi (Guangxi) Province with administrative center in Wuchow (Wuzhou) City. Work began in 1920. Established as a Prefecture Apostolic in 1934, elevated to a Vicariate Apostolic in 1939, and elevated to a Diocese in 1946. Includes the mission locations of Hing Ip, Kwai Peng, Jungyun, Paak Sha, Pak Lau, Pingnam, Pok Pak/Pokpak, Sz Wong, Taiwan, Tanchuk, Tanguen, Topong, Watlam, Wuchow, and Yunghui. Maryknoll left Wuchow in 1954.

Catechetics: system of teaching the catechism

Catechism: a summary of Catholic doctrine

Catechist: one who teaches the catechism

Direct evangelization: system of attracting converts to Catholicism through person-to-person contact, ie. preaching about the faith, personally answering questions about the faith, speaking with people about one’s personal faith, or teaching in-person about the faith

Maryknoll Fathers & Brothers: the informal name of the Catholic Foreign Mission Society of America aka the Maryknoll Society

Maryknoll Sisters: the informal name of the Maryknoll Sisters of St. Dominic, formerly the Foreign Mission Sisters of St. Dominic

Maryknoller: descriptor for a member of the Maryknoll Society, Maryknoll Sisters, or Maryknoll Lay Missioners

Missioner: the Maryknoll-preferred term for missionary

Novice: a person admitted to probationary membership in a religious community

Novitiate: school where religious novices are trained before permanently joining the religious community

Pastoral care: care for a person’s spiritual needs, often in the form of prayer, personal counseling, or religious teaching

Procure: administrative headquarters and residence

Sacred Congregation of Propaganda Fide: a department of the Roman Curia (administrative institutions of the Vatican), now known as the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, which oversees the Maryknoll Society

Seminary: school where candidates for the priesthood are trained to become ordained

Sodalities: parish groups for lay people which meet for specific religious or charitable purposes

Select a category below for ministry- or topic-specific information, resources, and links to relevant Archives collections.

Direct Evangelization

Education and Study

Medical Care

Refugee Relief

Social Work and Pastoral Ministry

World War II

Maryknoll Fathers & Brothers Collections

MFBA China Missions Collection

MFBA China History Project Records

MFBA Hong Kong Regional History Collection

MFBA Mission Diaries Collection

MFBA Newsletters Collection

MFBA Mission Research and Planning Department Records

Maryknoll Sisters Collections

MSA China-Hong Kong-Macau Missions Collection

MSA Maryknoll Sisters Chronicles

MSA Mission Diaries Collection

MSA Newsletters Collection

MSA War Narratives Collection

External Organizations Collections

United States Catholic China Bureau Records

Following are select publications related to Maryknoll’s missions in China, Hong Kong, and Macau.

• American Catholic Missions and Communist China: 1945-1953 by Sr. Virginia Unsworth
• A Brief History of the Missionary Work of the Maryknoll Fathers in China by Fr. Peter Barry MM
• The Diaries of the Maryknoll Sisters in Hong Kong, 1921-1966 by Cindy Yik-Yi Chu
• Freedom Bridge: Maryknoll in Hong Kong by William Surface and Jim Hart
• Hearts on Fire: The Story of the Maryknoll Sisters by Penny Lernoux (2012 edition)
• Maryknoll in China by Jean-Paul Wiest
• Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers in Hong Kong, 1920-2010 by Fr. William Galvin MM
• Maryknoll Mission Letters China Vol. I: Letters from Maryknollers
• Maryknoll Mission Letters China Vol. II: Letters from Maryknollers
• Maryknoll Sisters in Hong Kong, 1921-1969: In Love with the Chinese by Cindy Yik-Yi Chu
• Silent Force: Native Converts in the Catholic China Mission by Bishop James E. Walsh MM and Rachel Yan Lu (Translator)