Memory Etched in Stone
by Father Rob Carbonneau, C.P.
Fr. Rob accompanied by local Chinese
visits the gravesite of the Catholic missionaries
China remains a living myth. In a concrete way we shape it as members of the world economy. Religious people sustain the myth as well. In particular Christians and precisely Catholics—through the life of scripture, the sacraments, and time-honored devotions—uphold ongoing efforts of evangelization. Reading the following short biographies of the deceased Catholics whose names are memorialized on the new Yuanling grave stone allows us to pause and reflect on the historic legitimacy inherent in preaching.
These men and women lived their lives in lively fashion. Born in China, the United States, Canada, Ireland, and Germany their etched names awaken us to remember that when we mourn at a grave site to honor our ancestors—Chinese, Christians, and those in numerous religions reverence this ritual in solemn and sometimes casual ways—the most challenging dimension may be rekindling our own heartbeat.
A close read of these biographies shows that they died from natural causes, shocking and brutal murder, and from disease that might have been treated if better medicine was available. Look at their age. We are reminded that youth is no antidote to death when it decides to call.
All important when we go to the site of an unmarked grave, pass by grave yards, or go to the site of a specific grave is that we see before us a choice to reinvigorate our life. Knowledge of death does offer us to feel the pulse of life. Subtly, life and death are partners in a sacred dance. Some of us love to learn the new steps that come our way. Some of us refuse to participate and become like wall flowers at a dance social.
Recent events in west Hunan have allowed us the opportunity to learn again about these seventeen deceased missionaries. In doing so we accept the invitation to respect how the Chinese have kept their religious faith. May their steadfast faith assist ours. The new grave stone built in the Yuanling countryside is a symbol of reconciliation peace in Yuanling, Hunan.
Born Donald Edmund Campbell in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania on January 5, 1889, he professed his vows on September 6, 1908 and was ordained on May 26, 1915. It was in the early 1920s that Father Edmund Campbell expressed his desire to go to China. On August 25, 1923 they arrived in Shanghai. After a short time in west Hunan, in February 1924 he moved to Hankou where he set up as the Passionist mission procurator. He proved to be a capable administrator. He died on April 13, 1925 after a short illness. He was the first Passionist to die in China.
Born October 17, 1894 in Petoskey, Michigan, he professed his vows on February 13, 1912 and was ordained on May 29, 1920 for Holy Cross Province—western United States. He quickly offered his ministry to the China missions, but it was decided that the time was not right. Instead he was assigned to Cincinnati, Ohio where he was a preacher who raised monies for the Passionist missions in China. In 1927 the western province decided to send more missionaries. Arriving in west Hunan in late 1928 he began to adjust to mission life. Fathers Coveyou, Clement Seybold, and Godfrey Holbein were killed by Chinese bandits on April 24, 1929. They were the first three American Catholic missionaries to be killed in China.
Born Claude Holbein on February 4, 1899 in Baltimore, Maryland, he professed his vows on May 16, 1917 and was ordained a priest on October 28, 1923. China was his first assignment. By mid-1924 he was in west Hunan. He found the mission life difficult and expressed some desire to return to the United States. Fathers Holbein, Coveyou and Seybold were killed by Chinese bandits on April 24, 1929. The Catholic press in the United States proclaimed them to be martyrs.
Born Lawrence Seybold on April 18, 1896 in Dunkirk, New York, he professed his vows on September 17, 1918 and was ordained on October 28, 1923. In July 1924 he went to China. He found the mission life to be a challenge, but he had quite good success. Fathers Seybold, Coveyou and Holbein were killed by Chinese bandits on April 24, 1929. Their death was an international incident to which the United States Department of State had to respond.
Born January 17, 1892, he professed his vows on May 5, 1914 and was ordained on February 4, 1923. He died of typhoid on April 25, 1929 in Yongshunfu, Hunan, China the day after the three missionaries were murdered by bandits. He was proclaimed a "martyr to duty."
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