In 1921, the Passionists responded to the 1919 Apostolic Letter, Maixum Illud, by sending missionaries to Hunan, China.
Departing the United States in late 1921, the first group arrived in 1922, and for the next 33 years, 80 Passionists from both St. Paul of the Cross and Holy Cross Provinces served in the Yuanling Diocese.
But on April 24, 1929, three young Passionists, Godfrey Holbein, C.P., Clement Seybold, C.P. and Walter Coveyou, C.P. were murdered at the hand of bandits.
On the 95th anniversary of this historic event, Passionist Historian, Fr. Rob Carbonneau, CP, discussed how it impacted U.S. Catholic history, shaped Holy See relations with China, and also influenced U.S. Department of State diplomatic policy in China of the era.