Father Flavian Mullins, C.P., St. Paul of the Cross Province (1893-1939)

Born Edward Mullins on September 16, 1893 in Athens, Pennsylvania, he professed his vows on May 26, 1912. His religious name was Flavian. He was ordained on June 14, 1919 at St. Michael’s Monastery, West Hoboken, New Jersey. After ordination he was a preacher of parish missions and renewals. He was, to the surprise of many chosen to be part of the first group of Passionist missionaries to China. He set sail on Christmas Eve 1921 from Seattle, Washington. In April 1922 he was en route to western Hunan. Supu was his primary mission assignment. He had out stations at Chicochiang, Huachaio, Tachiangkou, and Lungtan. He was in the Supu district of western Hunan for eight years. From 1930 until 1931 he returned to the United States for rest and recuperation. During this time his father and sister died. Still he preached for the Sign Magazine and he went out to promote the China missions. He would conduct lantern slide lectures. In 1931 he was on his way back to China and assigned to Fengwhang. In 1935 he was assigned from there to Yuanling to serve as Vicar General in the absence of Bishop Cuthbert O’Gara, C.P. It was at this time that the area was overrun for a second time by Chinese Communist leaders Ho Lung and Hsiao Keh which left the missions of Wuki, Chenki, Supu, Chiaochiang, and Lungtan robbed and partially destroyed. They came close to Yuanling. In 1936 he was elected religious superior of the Passionists in China. Upon being named to this office he resigned as Vicar General and took up his residence in Chenki where he remained until his death.