This is a photograph of the "Pro-Cathedral built under the direction of Bishop Walsh, designed by Brother Albert and first sod turned by Bishop McGinley. It was blessed on Foundation Day [June 29, 1929]." Born in Maryland, Fr. Walsh graduated from Mt. St. Mary's College at age 19 and worked two years as a timekeeper in a steel mill. He entered the first class of Maryknoll in 1912 and in 1915 became the second priest ordained in the Society. Three years later. 1918, he was assigned to Kwong Tung (present Guangdong), China. Pope Pius XI named Fr. Walsh as the first Bishop of the Vicariate of Kongmoon. He was consecrated a Bishop in 1927 at Shepherd of the Church on Sancian Island the death place of St. Francis Xavier. In 1936, Bishop Walsh was elected second Superior General following the death of Bishop James A. Walsh, the founder of Maryknoll. In 1948 he as asked to return to China to head the Catholic Central Bureau in Shanghai. In 1951 the government closed the bureau. He was arrested in 1959 and sentenced to 20 years in prison. In 1970 he was released after spending nearly 12 years in prison. -- Born in Switzerland, Brother Albert entered Maryknoll in 1917 and was assigned to China in 1921. He took up his long mission career in Kongmoon and later in Hong Kong at the St. Louis School. He returned to Kongmoon in 1947. In 1950 he was arrested by the Communists, put on public trial and released three months later in Pakkai. In 1951 he was put on trial again and his compound was confiscated. Many of the buildings he erected throughout the China missions are monuments to his talents. In 1954, Br. Albert left Mainland China for Formosa.
If you're wondering about permissions and what you can do with this item, a good starting point is the "rights information" on this page. See our terms of use for more tips.
Share your story
Has Calisphere helped you advance your research, complete a project, or find something meaningful? We'd love to hear about it; please send us a message.
