Michael R. GAIERO [1914-1995]

Submitted by moddsey on Fri, 08/16/2024 - 23:26
Names
Title
Father
Given
Michael R.
Family
Gaiero
Sex
Male
Status
Deceased
Born
Date
Birthplace (town, state)
Haverhill, Massachusetts
Died
Date
Died in (town, state)
Maryknoll, New York
Died in (country)
United States

Father Michael R. Gaiero was a Maryknoll missionary. He was ordained on 22 June 1941 and assigned to Kweilin (Guilin), China. He and his group of newly ordained priests had arrived in Hong Kong just before the Japanese invasion and became trapped in the city and not able to proceed to their inland missions.

After the fall of Hong Kong, he was interned at Stanley Camp. In September 1942, he was released from confinement (see here) and later gained permission from the Japanese authorities to enter China and proceed to the inland mission at Kweilin.  Father Gaiero and a group of Maryknoll priests left Hong Kong in January 1943 and safely reached Kweilin on 2 February 1943.

Father Gaiero would go on and serve in Kaying (Meizhou/Meixian) as an assistant pastor. He returned to the United States in 1949 and waited for a few years for his assignment to Taiwan in 1955. 

Source

1. Maryknoll Mission Archives: https://maryknollmissionarchives.org/deceased-fathers-bro/father-michael-gaiero-mm/

2. Catholic News Service - Newsfeeds dated 23 June 1941. See here

3. Brooklyn Daily Eagle dated 5 February 1943. See here

4. The Shanghai Evening Post and Mercury dated 5 February 1943. See here

5. Catholic News Service - Newsfeeds dated 9 March 1959. See here

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