William E. Barrett

The Red Lacquered Gate: the Early Days of the Columban Fathers and the Courage and Faith of Its Founder, Fr. Edward Galvin William E. Barrett

Fr. Edward "Ned" Galvin was born in Ireland in 1882, the oldest in a family of seven children. After he was ordained to the Catholic priesthood, he realized that there were more priests in his native land than parishes. So Ned Galvin immigrated to the United States and turned a struggling church in Brooklyn into a thriving parish. But Father Galvin had a secret desire to do missionary work. He was especially attracted to China and had read all the books on the subject his local library could provide. Finally, his wish was granted and he set out with a group of dedicated helpers on a mission to the Far East. William E. Barrett created this colorful, dramatic portrait of an unusual man whose strong Catholic faith helped him survive the horrors and heartbreak of his demanding mission to China.