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.
Campus Engagement
Initiative expansion campaign
Friendship across cultures, sharing meaning and faith.
WHY OUTREACH MEETS A VITAL NEED
Not all Chinese young people are looking for faith. However, all are looking for friendship and meaning in life. In that respect, they are no different from other young people in any other land.
The USCCA’s Campus Engagement Initiative (CEI) meets them at this important moment in their lives and offers friendship and resources for the journey.
Building friendship across cultures is especially timely. When globalization and polarization dehumanize us, friendship calls us back to our authentic humanity.
And for those who seek a foundation that will last them a lifetime and beyond, the Christian faith opens their heart and their imagination. They may no other chance to encounter the Gospel.
Andy, an exchange student from one of China’s premier universities in Beijing, is here for a year to learn and explore. His time in the U.S. is a unique opportunity.
Nick is active in campus ministry at Santa Clara University. Participating in activities where he makes friends from China also allows him to share a precious gift – his faith.
Phoebe is a Catholic from Wenzhou now pursuing a graduate degree in architecture. Being involve in our ministry has deepened her faith and given her the courage to reach out to others.
The CEI provides Chinese international students opportunities for making friends on campus that they might not otherwise – American-born students (some of Chinese descent) who are interested in them and their experience. Chinese internationals also appreciate the opportunity to get of campus and meet members of the local Chinese Catholic community. In this context, they can witness celebration of the faith in their own language.
The San Jose Chinese Catholic Community has been our base of support in the area
Friendships formed with students at Newman Hall, the Catholic ministry at UC Berkeley
In addition to relying on local students and community, the CEI relies on people like you who support these life-changing efforts.
Two Tracks
CEI programming runs on two tracks, one that emphasizes friendship and the sharing of experience, the other that provides explicit options for exploring the faith.
Online Resources:
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Each campus has its own dedicated website
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The CEI also hosts a Chinese language website dedicated to aiding Catholic high schools that recruit in China
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This campaign will fund a website to produce relevant resources in Chinese and English for exploring life, meaning, and Catholic faith
THE CEI MINISTRY MODEL
PILOT PROGRAMMING A GREAT SUCCESS
Now a successful professional in Silicon Valley, Keyun Tong shares his experience with Santa Clara University grad students arriving from China for the first time. Keyun is a cradle Catholic from China who himself attended university in the United States.
Bay Area CEI Coordinator Kathleen also met one-on-one and in small groups with Chinese international students throughout the Bay Area to learn about their experience and reflect together on the journey of life.
The Thanksgiving celebration hosted by the San Jose Chinese Catholic Community was brought in 50 Chinese international students to learn about American culture. Fr. Michael explains why we give thanks.
Sunday dinner at Newman Hall, University of California Berkeley, was a chance for Chinese international students and Catholics on campus to get to know one another.
In cooperation with our friends and colleagues at China Outreach Ministries and ERRChina (two lead Protestant outreach organizations), the USCCA hosted a Bay Area Christmas celebration that focused on the person at the heart of our celebration, Jesus of Nazareth.
BY THE NUMBERS
Hundreds of thousands of Chinese students come to the U.S. to study each year, and many study at Catholic campuses. They should not be ignored or worse, ostracized because of the tensions that mark our polarized world. They should be welcome. Friendship can be a powerful force for good. It is also an opportunity to share the best of our culture, our values, and our faith.
Source: US Department of Homeland Security.
One of the reasons Protestant Christianity has grown exponentially in China is the support lent to the movement by students and scholars who found the faith and returned from abroad. In 2013 it was predicted that if trends continue, China would become the largest Christian nation on Earth by 2035.
Source: “Protestant Christianity is booming in China,” The Economist (9/15/2020) https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2020/09/15/protestant-christianity-is-booming-in-china
"To evangelize is to share our faith in the Gospel. Protestants in the U.S. have taken up this responsibility, and it has made a difference in the lives of countless young people from China. Catholics seem to be less active in this regard, even on Catholic campuses. Isn’t the Gospel a treasure that is worth sharing?"
– Martha Chan, President, ERRChina, a leading Protestant organization that serves China
A joint staff appointee with the McGrath Institute for Church Life at Notre Dame University, John Lindblom will serve as National Coordinator of the CEI. John, who received his doctorate from Notre Dame, speaks fluent Chinese and has advocating launching this program for years.
Expanding the Campus Engagement Initiative
Current phase: June 2022 to May 2023
Launch pilot programs in S.F. Bay Area
Develop online support for programming
Develop ministry model
2023-24: Expand to second metro area
Expand to 4 metro areas, institutionalize model
Develop Explorer resources website
2024-26: Expand to additional metro areas, institutionalize model
Finalize staff training and leadership model
Expand programming to two additional metro areas
Lay foundation for next phase of expansion
GOAL OF THE CEI EXPANSION CAMPAIGN
BUDGET
June 2023 to May 2024
Staff: $22,222
Activities: $22,222
Resource Development: $22,222
Overhead: $22,222
June 2024 to May 25
Staff: $22,222
Activities: $22,222
Resource Development: $22,222
Overhead: $22,222
June 2025 to May 26
Staff: $22,222
Activities: $22,222
Resource Development: $22,222
Overhead: $22,222
Total campaign goal over three years: $865,000
The CEI relies on dedicated staff, the involvement of local supporters and the institutional infrastructure of both the US-China Catholic Association and the McGrath Institute for Church Life. As a result, it requires very little additional expenditure for overhead. Your contribution goes toward making the programs work.
Message from Fr. Michael
We hope that you are as excited by the promise of the USCCA’s Campus Engagement Initiative as we are. This initiative is only possible because many people pitch in to make it a reality – Catholic students eager to reach out, dedicated campus ministers, members of the local Chinese Catholic community, and innovative staff.
Will you join with us to welcome Chinese international students? Inspired by the Gospel, let us build the future together.
To find out if there is CEI programming in your area, or to explore how to initiate such programming, contact me. I would love to hear from you.
Fr. Michael Agliardo
USCCA Executive Director
Director@USCatholicChina.org
DONATE TO THE CEIEC:
The USCCA is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization.
Your donations are tax-deductible to the maximum extent allowed by law.