This is a photograph of Father Joe Sweeney [back row, left] at a leprosarium at the Kongmoon [now Jiangmen] mission. Also with him is Bro Anselm and Dr. Blaber. There are 5 men in the front row who are victims of leprosy. Born in Connecticut, Fr. Sweeney entered Maryknoll in 1915 and was ordained to the priesthood on February 8, 1920. In 1921 he was assigned to China. In 1924 he transferred to Korea and in 1927 to Fushun, Manchuria. In 1932 he returned to China. He established a leper colony in Kongmoon. He was interned by the Communists, released in 1953 and returned to the United States. In 1955 he again took up work with lepers in Korea.
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