Scholarly Panels
Contributions from academics drawing on the method and resources of their respective disciplines.
Panels / topics proposed to date:
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Sino-Vatican Relations in Historical Perspective
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Sociological Perspectives on Christianity
in Contemporary China -
The Sinicisation of Religion in China Today
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Environmental Issues and the Faith Communities of China
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suggestions for panels and topics
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suggestions concerning speakers (including yourself)
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submission of brief abstracts
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other suggestions or feedback
Note: Panel organizers (only) will have conference registration fees waived in appreciation for their service to the gathering.
Presentations and
workshops
Discussion forums and practical advice from people involved in the life of the Church in China and in the Chinese diaspora.
Practical workshops and presentations requested to date:
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Faith and the Current Generation
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Social Services: Making a Contribution in China Society
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The American University Context
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Relations among Christians and China
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Paths to Discipleship
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Religion in the City
Click this button for a form to enter:
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suggestions for workshops or presentations
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suggestions concerning speakers (including yourself)
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other suggestions or feedback
Note: Presenters will have their conference registration fees waived in appreciation for their service to the gathering.
build bridges of friendship & understanding
Book Circles
For the Fall 2026 semester, we will read Sun Yanfei's Religious Change in Post-Mao China: Toward a New Sociology of Religion. This book explores the remarkable rise of Protestantism, the challenges faced by Catholicism, the revival of Chinese popular religion, the complex dynamics of Chinese Buddhism, and the unrealized potential of new religious movements. It will give us an excellent picture of past evolutions and current dynamics in the Chinese religious landscape.
You can purchase the book here: Religious Change in Post-Mao China: Toward a New Sociology of Religion
Our Reading schedule is as follows:
Aug 22: Intro and Ch. 1 (Protestantism in Post-Mao China: A Phenomenal Rise), pp. 13-55
Sept 19: Ch. 2 (Catholicism and Protestantism Compared: Reversal of Fortune), pp. 56-82
Oct 17: Ch. 3 (Chinese Popular Religion: Feminization, Bifurcation, and Buddhification), pp. 83-114
Nov 14: Ch. 4 (New Religious Movements: High Potential and Sporadic Outbursts), 115-138
Dec 12: Ch. 15 (Chinese Buddhism: Competitive Isomorphism Arrested) and Conclusion, 139-198
If you have any questions about the Book Circle, please contact USCCA Coordinator Kathy Stout: membership@uscatholicchina.org.
Book Circle organizers
The organizers of the USCCA Book Circle volunteer their time throughout the year to facilitate opportunities for participants to learn about history, Chinese culture, theology, philosophy, and the life of the Church in China. Their passion for learning enables curious minds from around the world to build bridges of friendship through Book Circle discussions held via international video calls.
Huili (Kathy) Stout, Ph.D.
Dayton, Ohio
Dr. Stout received her Ph.D. in theology from the University of Dayton in December 2023. She has taught classes on theology and religious studies as well as Daoism, Buddhism, and Chinese traditions in general to undergraduate students at UD and the University of Oklahoma.
Mary Sluka, M.A.
Riverside, Illinois
Mary Sluka's service to the USCCA stems from her time studying for her M.A. in Asian Studies from the University of Hawaii. She also has an M.A. in Pastoral Studies from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. A long-time member of the Board of the USCCA, she served as Secretary for almost a decade.
Rev. Hugh O’Donnell, CM, Ph.D.
Chicago, Illinois
Throughout his career, Fr. O'Donnell has held leadership and formation positions in the U.S., China, and in France. Born of Irish immigrant parents in Chicago in 1934, he entered the Congregation of Mission (the Vincentians) in 1952. Ordained a priest in 1961, he eventually went on for doctoral studies in Biblical theology, receiving his Ph.D. from the University of Fribourg, Switzerland, in 1966. Now based in the U.S., Fr. O'Donnell founded and heads up an annual five-week summer program on leadership at De Paul University for sisters and priests from China.