Father Leonard Amrhein, C.P., St. Paul of the Cross Province (1911-1990)

Born September 3, 1911, he had relatives who had entered the Passionists. After graduating from elementary school he entered the Passionist Preparatory Seminary. He professed his vows on August 15, 1931 and was ordained on May 30, 1938. After some more studies he went to China in January 1940. He studied the language in Beijing and was interned by the Japanese when they occupied the city. In September 1945 he made it finally to western Hunan, China. He worked as a parish priest in a small mountainous community. After nine years he returned to the United States when the Communists came to power. In 1958 he went to the Philippines and arrived that February. He was assigned first to Marbel, then to Glan where he had to learn the Cebuano dialect. There he developed the Confraternity of the Passion, the Nocturnal Adoration Society, and the Apostolate of the Apostleship of Prayer. Next he ministered at Norala. He also worked in other locations in the Philippines.