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Nourishing Trust and Friendship: Following the
Way of Christ

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The 30th Biennial Conference of the US-China Catholic Association

July 31–August 2, 2026

University of St. Thomas

Houston, TX

USCCA conferences are made possible by supporters like you.

Art Project Call for Submissions

Artistic Expressions on Chinese culture, Catholic faith in China, and Friendship​

 

Dear Friends,  


We are warmly inviting you to participate in a special interactive gallery at this year’s USCCA  Conference 30, centered around the themes of Chinese culture, the Catholic faith in China, and Friendship.  


We know that many of you hold items of deep personal, historical, or spiritual significance, whether it is a photograph, a painting, a piece of calligraphy, a sculpture, or anything else. We want to present a chance to share these objects and the stories they tell to all fellow attendees of the conference.  

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To Participate:  
We ask you to submit a photograph of an artifact along with a simple description. During the conference, we will host a digital gallery where all attendees can view these images and the stories behind them.  


Throughout the conference, attendees will be able to browse the gallery and "Like" their favorite pieces. At the conclusion of our time together, we will highlight the artifact that received the  most likes from our community!  

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How to Photograph Your Submission:

We are so excited to see the beautiful items you are sharing with us! To make sure your images looks its best in the digital gallery, please follow these four simple steps when taking your photo with your smartphone.  
 

1. Find Natural Light 
 

Great lighting makes the details of your item shine.  
DO: Place the item near a window during daytime. Soft, natural daylight looks the best.  
DON'T: Use your camera's flash. It creates harsh glares and shadows.  

DON'T: Place the item under direct sunlight which can wash out colors. 

2. Clear the Background
 

The visual focus should be on the piece you are photographing. 

DO: Place the object against a simple and clean background. A plain wall, a clean  wooden table, or a smooth piece of white fabric works perfectly. 
DON'T: Leave everyday clutter in the frame behind or next to your item. 

3. Steady, Frame, and Focus 
 

Ensure your image looks sharp.

DO: Photograph the object when there is sufficient light available. 

DO: Rest your elbows on a table or use other aids to keep your hands from shaking. 

DO: Tap your phone screen right where the object is. This tells your phone to focus on  the item before you press the capture button. 

3. Steady, Frame, and Focus 
 

Keep the file size large so we can see all the wonderful details.  

DO: Select "Actual Size," "Large," or "Original" if your phone asks you what size file to  share when uploading.  

DON'T: Send the photo through text message or other messaging apps first. These apps  tend to automatically shrink image to save data. 

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To Submit:  
There are two ways to submit images: you may upload directly to Padlet, or you may email the project leader Peter Feng. Links to both submission methods are included at the bottom of this page.

Remember to include:  

1. Your name 

2. A brief description (up to 3-4 sentences/ca. 100 words) briefly explaining its significance and connection to the themes. 

3. (If uploaded directly to Padlet) in the description please include an email that can be used for contact. The email address will not be displayed publicly. Submission Deadline: July 19, 2026  

The US-China Catholic Association was founded in 1989 by concerned U.S. bishops, Maryknoll, the Jesuits, and representatives of other religious orders in order to promote mutual support and fraternal ties between the Church in China and the U.S. Church.

Mailing address

US-China Catholic Association

1501 N. Oakley Blvd, #214

Chicago, IL 60622

Email contact

Director@USCatholicChina.org

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The USCCA is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. Your donations are tax-deductible to the maximum extent allowed by law. The success of our work depends upon the generosity of people like you.

© 2026 US-China Catholic Association

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