Maryknoll priests at Dongzhen, China, 1921

This is a photograph of "Fr. Meyer, Fr. Balldit, P.F.M., and Fr. Donovan." Taken at Tungchen [now Dongzhen].; Born in Iowa, Fr. Meyer was studying for the diocesan priesthood when he heard about Maryknoll and wrote to Fr. James Anthony Walsh in 1914. As a deacon at Maryknoll he became procurator of the Seminary and member of the first Maryknoll governing council. In 1918 he became one of the pioneer departure group to open Maryknoll's first mission in Kongmoon, South China. He spent many years in China but was finally forced to leave by the Communists in 1950. -- Fr. Donovan entered Maryknoll in 1916. His enthusiasm for Maryknoll passed on to his younger brothers, Thomas and Gerard, who joined him in studies. Eventually all three became Priests and Fr. Gerard was the first Maryknoll martyr. Fr. Joseph Donovan was ordained on May 20, 1920 and was assigned to the Kongmoon mission in South China. He was also stationed at Tungchen and later Wuchow. In 1922 he returned to the United States for health reasons but in 1931 he returned to South China as Procurator in Hong Kong. He remained there a few years and eventually took many varied assignments in the United States