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
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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.
The Board and Officers of the US-China Catholic Association deeply appreciate the willingness of keynote speakers to share their views and expertise with us.
At the same time, we make clear that the views are not our own. In fact, we deliberately invite people with a range of views to speak, so long as they speak in good faith and in a spirit of mutual respect.
Keynote Speaker
Fr. Thomas Betz, OFM Cap.
St. John the Evangelist Church, Philadelphia, PA
Father Tom Betz is a Capuchin priest, the Pastor of St. John the Evangelist Church in Center City Philadelphia, which includes responsibility for Holy Redeemer Chinese Catholic Church and School.
Nourishing Trust and Friendship:
Chinese Catholics in America Following the Way of Christ
Catholics who have come from China, and Chinese in the United States who have embraced the Catholic faith, share deeply in the Church’s common pilgrimage of hope, discipleship, and community.
Their stories reflect a rich diversity that opens pathways for service, witness, and evangelization. To understand the experience of Chinese Catholics in America is also to recognize the profound role of American Chinatowns, places where culture, faith, resilience, and belonging have taken root.
Together, these narratives illuminate a vibrant and essential chapter in the unfolding story of the Catholic Church in the United States.
Panel Speakers
Fr. Emanuele Angiola
Fu Jen Catholic University, Taipei
Fr. Emanuele Angiola (安吉恩) is Adjunct Assistant Professor at Fu Jen Catholic University in Taipei and Adjunct Lecturer at the Fu Jen Faculty of Theology of St. Robert Bellarmine. He holds a PhD in Religious Studies from Fu Jen Catholic University (2025). His research focuses on the thought of John C. H. Wu, intercultural theology, and dialogue between Christian faith and Chinese intellectual and spiritual traditions. He also teaches at the Chung Tai Chan Monastery and has served in Taiwan since 2011 as a missionary priest of the Fraternity of St. Charles Borromeo (FSCB).
Beyond East and West: John C. H. Wu and the Transfiguration of Cultures
Emanuele Angiola examines the life and thought of the Chinese Catholic intellectual John C. H. Wu (吳經熊, 1899–1986) as a model for intercultural and interreligious dialogue in a globalized yet fragmented world. Drawing on his 2025 doctoral dissertation in Religious Studies at Fu Jen Catholic University (Taipei), Fr. Angiola proposes a framework described as “Christ Transfiguring Cultures.” Wu’s life and vocation—spanning China, Europe, the Holy See, and the United States—embodied what he called a “diplomacy of love,” grounded in intellectual rigor and spiritual depth. His major works, including Beyond East and West, The Interior Carmel, Fountain of Justice, and Chinese Humanism and Christian Spirituality, articulate a vision in which Christian faith illuminates and fulfills the authentic aspirations present within cultural and religious traditions. Marking the fortieth anniversary of Wu’s death, this presentation invites renewed reflection on his legacy as a witness to harmony, dialogue, and enduring friendship across cultures.
Bede Benjamin Bidlack
Saint Anselm College
Bede Benjamin Bidlack is a Professor of Theology at Saint Anselm College, Manchester, New Hampshire, USA. He received his PhD on Comparative Theology from Boston College in 2011. He is a systematic theologian who looks to Daoist thought to inspire new interpretations of Christian revelation.
Chinese Martial Contributions to Prayer
Professor Bede Benjamin Bidlack explores Chinese martial arts as a contribution to Catholic prayer. The presentation places St. Ignatius of Loyola’s Spiritual Exercises in dialogue with the taiji quan master Chen Weiming (陳微明, 1881–1958), examining how martial discipline can illuminate the discernment of spirits. Drawing on Chen’s principle of “join, stick, and follow,” the session explores how bodily awareness deepens spiritual discernment, making interior movements more perceptible through embodied practice. By comparing Loyola’s language of spiritual “motion” with taiji’s (太极拳) relational responsiveness, Bede Bidlack’s presentation suggests that contemplative action can be cultivated through disciplined physical engagement. Including a brief guided exercise, the session demonstrates how Chinese martial wisdom offers an embodied dimension to Catholic spirituality, enriching discernment, prayer, and transformative engagement with the world. There will be an opportunity for practice to practice the taiji quan principle of “join, stick, and follow”.
Stephen J. Binz
Independent author
Stephen J. Binz is a Catholic biblical scholar and an award-winning author of over sixty books. He offers keynotes, seminars, and workshops at international, national, and regional conferences as well as education for clergy and pastoral leaders. In addition, he frequently leads pilgrimages to biblical sites and sacred places throughout the world. His writing focuses on biblical commentary, biblical theology, and Christian spirituality. As founder and author of Threshold Bible Study, he has written and published forty-six studies for personal and group Bible study. Since 2008, his books have earned eleven awards from the "Excellence in Publishing Awards" of the Association of Catholic Publishers and seven book awards from the Catholic Press Association. Stephen earned graduate degrees at the Pontifical Gregorian University and the Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome and Jerusalem. He is an active member of the Society of Biblical Literature and the Catholic Biblical Association.
Catholic Bible Study in English and Chinese for the Growth and Renewal of the Church
Stephen Binz has developed Threshold Bible Study, dozens of thematic books integrating reading, study, reflection, conversation, and prayer, a distinctly Catholic and holistic approach to Scripture. In recent years, a Chinese sister (wishing to remain anonymous) has worked with Chinese biblical theologians to coordinate the translation, publication, and distribution of these books in the People’s Republic of China and other Chinese-speaking communities. The workshop will address the following: 1) the critical importance of biblical reading and study for the growth and renewal of the Church, 2) the distinctively Catholic approach and structure of this Bible study, 3) ongoing plans for these Bible studies in English and Chinese, 4) meeting translation and cultural challenges, 5) experience with Bible study in America and China, 6) bridge building, friendship, and understanding, as disciples and evangelizers through one Lord, one faith, one Church, and one Bible. More information at www.Bridge-B.com.
Fr. Robert Carbonneau
USCCA and Boston College
Fr. Rob Carbonneau, CP, Ph.D., is a Passionist priest; a member of St. Paul of the Cross Province. He is an Affiliated Research Fellow at the Ricci Institute for Chinese-Western Culture at Boston College and also an adjunct professor in the Theology Department. Fr. Rob is a graduate of Assumption University, Worcester, MA (BA, History), St. John's University, New York (MA, Theology and M.Div.) and Georgetown University (Ph.D. in American and East Asian history). He has taught at American colleges and universities and as a foreign expert in Chongqing, China (2007-2008). His research and international publications focus on the Passionists in China.
Reflections of a Passionist’s China Visits 1989 to 2024
My insights on China have changed dramatically since I first conducted research in 1989. Visits to China in the 1990s to the early 2000s allowed me to appreciate economic and religious change. Teaching in Chongqing from 2007-2008 humbled and enriched me as I engaged with students and the lives of ordinary people. As a tour consultant in 2017 and 2019, respectively, I witnessed fast-paced civic and social realities. And my 2024 journey reminded me to value present Catholic realities within the wide historical lens of the twentieth and first quarter of this twenty-first century.
Session Chair: Studies of Catholic Religious Orders in China
Heidi Kempt Chew
Case Western Reserve University
Dr. Heidi Chew, herself a former international student, has served in ministry to international students for more than thirty years. Her work spans roles as a campus minister, ministry coach, cross-cultural trainer, ESL professor, spiritual director, and speaker in both Catholic and Protestant contexts. She holds a B.Div., M.Div., M.A. in World Evangelization, M.A. in Journalism, M.A. in ESL, and a Ph.D. in Secondary Education with a specialization in Cross-Cultural Training, along with certification as a Spiritual Director in the Ignatian tradition. Her ministry integrates theological formation, intercultural competence, and spiritual accompaniment, equipping students and campus leaders to build Christ-centered, multinational communities. Currently based in Cleveland, Ohio, she continues to mentor and train leaders committed to fostering faith-filled, globally attentive campus ministries.
Pursuing Christ Together – Equipping American Students to Journey with their Chinese Peers
Drawing on more than three decades of ministry experience and current work at Case Western Reserve University, Heidi Kempt Chew explores how American students can be formed to accompany their Chinese peers in authentic friendship and shared discipleship. At a time when Chinese international students often experience isolation, cultural dissonance, and geopolitical suspicion, this presentation proposes a model of Christ-centered, multinational campus community rooted in vision, cross-cultural competence, student leadership, sacramental life, and partnership rather than paternalism. By equipping students to move beyond fear and stereotypes toward curiosity, trust, and shared spiritual growth, the session highlights practical strategies for cultivating communities where Americans and Chinese students learn, serve, and encounter Christ together. Emphasizing collaboration “with” rather than ministry “to,” Heidi presents a framework for forming campus communities that reflect the global Church and nurture lasting faith.
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Anthony E. Clark
Whitworth University
Dr. Anthony E. Clark is Edward B. Lindaman Endowed Chair at Whitworth University, the distinguished Combe Trust Fellow at the University of Edinburgh, and an elected Fellow of the Royal Historical Society of London. He is professor of late-imperial Chinese history and director of the Asian Studies Program at Whitworth University. His publications include China Gothic: The Bishop of Beijing and His Cathedral (2019), A Chinese Jesuit Catechism: Giulio Aleni's Four Character Classic (2021), China’s Catholics in an Era of Transformation: Observations of an “Outsider” (2020), Heaven in Conflict: Franciscans and the Boxer Uprising in Shanxi (2015) and China’s Christianity: From Missionary to Indigenous Church (edited volume, 2017). Clark’s scholarship centers on Sino-Christian cultural exchange in late-imperial China, including an examination of the place of Catholic martyrs. He received his doctorate in classical sinology under Dr. Stephen Durrant, in the lineage of Fr. Teilhard de Chardin, SJ, Fr. Father Jozef Mullie, CICM, Dr. Peter Boodberg, and Fr. Paul Serruys, CICM. His is a tradition of comparative research into China’s long intellectual and religious exchange with the West.
Session Chair: Multi-Generational Conversation on the Past and Present of Catholicism in China
Session Chair: Christianity and Friendship across Cultures
Adam Joel Ensign
Insignia Cultural Endeavors
Adam Ensign earned his BA in Biblical research from Central Christian College of the Bible (2005) after which he resided in Beijing, where he obtained his MA in linguistics from Peking University (2012) and taught at Beijing Language and Culture University (2013–2016) and Renmin University (2016–2025). While serving as a translator for the Palace Museum (2013–2022), he cultivated interdisciplinary expertise through research-intensive projects spanning Chinese art, culture, and history from the Neolithic age to the present Socialist period. He has explored every major administrative district in China, including Tibet and Xinjiang, and visited countless cultural and religious sites throughout Asia. Leveraging his unique background in language scholarship, cultural heritage, and international collaboration, he founded Insignia Cultural Endeavors, L.L.C., in 2025 to help clients navigate the diverse social ecologies of our planet and to encourage durable ventures for global impact.
Upholding the Word of Life: Nourishing Trust and Friendship through Manchu Bible Research
In this presentation, Adam Ensign shares about the two versions of Manchu Biblical texts produced during the Qing dynasty (1644–1911). The first is a collection of Old and New Testament books translated by Louis Antoine de Poirot, S.J. (1735-1813), and the second is the New Testament translated by the Russian orthodox missionary Stepan Vaciliyevich Lipovtsov (1770–1841) and edited by the Protestant writer George Borrow (1803–1881). For over a decade, Adam has undertaken the first comprehensive transliterated corpus of these texts through archival research at the Toyo Bunko (Oriental Library) in Tokyo, Japan, and digital facsimiles from Australia. While summarizing his transcription and analysis, the presentation demonstrates how such scholarship can foster positive collaboration among academic, ethnic, organizational, and religious communities around the globe. By preserving and studying this shared spiritual heritage, he seeks to model how research projects can cultivate dialogue, strengthen trust, and build cooperation across cultural, ecclesial, and institutional boundaries.
Peter Yigeng Feng
Current Student of Theology at the Angelicum, 3rd Year S.T.B.
Peter Yigeng Feng is a graduate student at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum) in Rome. He has extensive experience serving the local Church in Beijing, the United States, and Italy. Prior to his theological studies, Peter trained as a photographer in Chicago and Toronto. He later graduated summa cum laude from Saint Vincent College with a degree in philosophy and theology. Having lived on three continents, Peter is passionate about promoting dialogue and friendship across different cultures. He currently resides in Rome with his wife and son, where he is pursuing advanced studies in Thomism.
Observations of a New Generation Catholic: The resilience of the Chinese Faithful
Growing up in China, I have seen how each recent generation has lived through vastly different and dramatic times in terms of faith, politics, and economics. My own experiences in Beijing and other parts of the world have allowed me to witness how each of these generations holds fast to their faith despite the challenges. Furthermore, as I gradually learn how dioceses, parishes, and the laity navigate the socio-political life in China, I have come to deeply cherish the resilience of the Chinese faithful as we handle the complexities of both the past and the present.
Resurrection: Images from the 2026 Easter Triduum in Beijing
Peter Feng presents a photojournalistic piece featuring images he captured during the Easter Triduum of this year at the St. Michael’s Seminary, the cathedral of Beijing, and its international community. These selected images aim to provide a first-person view of the Church in Beijing. Through this curated visual narrative, Peter discusses how the local Church, amid historical and present complexities, remains a vibrant congregation rooted in Paschal joy and hope. Accompanied by his commentary, these visuals offer an intimate, updated look at the Church in the capital of China, serving as a foundation for mutual understanding and friendship.
Fr. Ed Griswold
Diocese of Trenton, NJ
An alumnus of Catholic Grammar and High Schools, Fr. Edward Griswold graduated with a BA in philosophy and an STL in 1972. He earned a M. Ed. in Counseling (Rutgers) in 1983 and a Doctor of Ministry (Aquinas Institute) in 2008.
Fr. Griswold was ordained a priest on April 7, 1973, for the Diocese of Trenton. His assignments in the diocese included: St. Ann’s, Browns Mills (deacon); St. Ambrose, Old Bridge (deacon); St. Matthias, Somerset (’73-80); Vocation Director (’80-’87); St. Mary’s, Colts Neck (pastor, ’95-2007); Director Priests Continuing Education (2000-’07); St. Gregory, Hamilton Square (pastor, ’07-09); St. Barnabas, Bayville (Senior Priest, Retired ’21- present).
Outside the diocese, Fr. Griswold’s assignments were: Director, National Conference of Diocesan Vocation Directors, Chicago (’87-’91); Mundelein Seminary, Chicago (Faculty’91-’95); St. Mary Seminary, Baltimore (Vice Rector, Faculty, Pastoral Dept. Director ’08-’18); Notre Dame University, South Bend (Visiting Professor ’18-’19); University of Dallas (Preaching Instructor ’22-present).
Session Chair: Pastoral and Social Service in China
Joseph W. Ho
University of Michigan
Dr. Ho is Academic Program Manager at the University of Michigan’s Eisenberg Institute for Historical Studies and a Center Associate at the Lieberthal-Rogel Center for Chinese Studies. A historian of modern East Asia, Sino–U.S. encounters, and transnational visual culture, he is the author of Developing Mission: Photography, Filmmaking, and American Missionaries in Modern China and co-author of Time Exposures: Catholic Photography and the Evolution of Modern China.
Fragmented Visions, Future Hopes: Civil War China in Lost Films by American Jesuit Missionaries
Joseph W. Ho presents and screens rare 16mm color documentary films produced by American Jesuit missionaries in China between 1947 and 1949. Digitized in collaboration with Boston College’s Ricci Institute, these films document Catholic community life during the Chinese Civil War. Dr. Ho traces their historical production, subsequent reinterpretations, and evolving significance within Sino–U.S. Catholic relations. Combining scholarly analysis with curated film excerpts, the session invites reflection on memory, faith, and the transpacific Catholic encounter.
Sr. Cuillian Jiang
Catholic Philosophy and Theology Seminary, MA
Sr. Jiang is a member of the Sisters of the Holy Hope of Xianxian, Hebei Province, China. She earned a Master of Ministry degree from Catholic Theological Union (Chicago) in 2017, along with certificates in spirituality and pastoral ministry. Sister Jiang serves as a visiting professor at a Catholic Philosophy and Theology Seminary in Shaan Xi Province, China. She is actively engaged in biblical formation and pastoral training across several provinces in China, including Hebei, Shandong, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Shenyang, and Inner Mongolia. She is currently studying at Boston
College, MTS program, focusing on scripture study.
Mission experiences of a Chinese Religious Sister
Sr. Cuillian Jiang offers a reflective account of a Chinese religious sister’s mission through biblical teaching and translation since 2017. Serving seminaries, dioceses, and formation programs across China, she has witnessed a sustained hunger for Scripture as a source of meaning, resilience, and spiritual renewal. Recognizing that many faithful lack access to formal study, she embraced translation as an extension of mission. To date, she has translated eight biblical reference works from English into Chinese, now used by Catholic clergy, religious, lay faithful, and Protestant pastors. Her academic formation in psychology informs her sensitivity to human suffering and hope within the translation process. Framing translation as both pastoral service and spiritual discipline, she reflects on humility, collaboration, and perseverance in mission. Her testimony highlights trust in God’s Word as a living force that continues to bear fruit across boundaries and communities and reflects a deep commitment to Scripture, spiritual formation, and the ongoing development of pastoral leadership within the Church in China.
Katherine Koch
Independent Writer
Katherine Koch is an artist and writer with a computer science degree, and a writer of historical fiction, especially about WWII. She is a scholar with a love of learning: She graduated summa cum laude from Kent State University in 2003. She is a member of Phi Beta Kappa. Today she works as a professional web administrator and dig ital marketing expert. It’s her dream job and wouldn’t give it up for the world. But by night, she curls up with a good history book and travel back in time.
Scholarly Storytelling: Missionaries in Twentieth Century China - The Process of Turning Archival Research into Historical Fiction
Katherine Koch examines the methodology of “scholarly storytelling” through a planned fourteen-novella series set in Hunan, China (1924–1955). The project weaves three fictional protagonists—an American correspondent and two local brothers—into a documented historical landscape shaped by Passionist missionaries, Sisters of Charity, and Sisters of St. Joseph during the Republican era and subsequent missionary expulsion. Grounded in primary sources from the Passionist China Collection—including correspondence, photographs, and essays published in The Sign magazine—the series seeks to render archival material into historically anchored narrative form. Using this creative work as a case study, Katherine Koch reflects on the interpretive process by which archival fragments become narrative entry points. It explores how chronology shapes plot and pacing, and how methodological transparency ensures that fictionalization functions as historically responsible interpretation rather than substitution for the documentary record.
Fr. Francis Li
St. Mother Teresa Parish, Chicago
Fr. Francis Li grew up in a Catholic village in China. He was ordained in 1999. He has served at three very diverse parishes before being named the Pastor of St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta Parish, a parish with two worship sites, St. Therese Chinese Catholic Church and St. Barbara Catholic Church. He received his Advanced Pastoral Leadership Certificate through the Kellogg School of Management and the Doctor of Ministry Degree from the Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, in 2016. He has a passion for Evangelization and enjoys readings, sports, and contemporary cinema.
Growing up in a Devout Catholic Family and Village in China
Growing up in a devout Catholic family and village in China provided a foundation of faith that continues to bring profound joy and fulfillment to my priesthood today. I look forward to sharing stories of faith from my upbringing and hope they offer inspiration to your own life and support the USCCA’s mission of dialogue and friendship.
Session Chair: Faith Formation in China
Dcn. Doug Lovejoy
USCCA
Deacon Doug Lovejoy graduated from Notre Dame and earned his master's degree from Princeton. Doug served twenty-four years in the US Army as a China specialist during which he taught Chinese Politics at West Point and Princeton and earned his PhD from the Catholic University of America. His dissertation, “Uncertain Opening,” addressed the impact of foreign relations on the Catholic Church and China in the post-Mao period. He was ordained a deacon for the Diocese of Trenton in 2004 and served as executive director of the USCCA (at the time known as the U.S. Catholic China Bureau) from 2003 to 2006.
Respect and Hope for Chinese Catholics by a China Specialist from the 1960s
My experiences have been shaped since the 1960’s by my early military career as a China specialist and later as an active member and later Executive Director of the USCCA’s predecessor, USCCB, from 2003 to 2006. During individual trips in the early 1980’s I saw the first encouraging signs of social change since the Cultural Revolution. I was privileged to lead three group tours for from 2003-2004 and to witness the increased independence and active life of the Church by directly connecting with seminaries, convents, Catholic parishes, diocesan officials and individual Catholics, including Bishops Jin of Shanghai and Le Duan of Xi An. My personal experiences with Chinese Catholics have reinforced my respect for them and hope for the future.
Tom McGuire
USCCA
Tom McGuire’s friendship with Chinese people dates back to his days as a Maryknoll Missionary in Hong Kong. His experience of living and sharing the Gospel with Chinese refugee sisters and brothers was a formative experience of mission discipleship. Tom also served as Director of Campus Ministry at the University of Detroit Mercy.
When he returned to the U.S. participating in USCCA Conferences helped to maintain his friendships with Chinese people. For six years, he served as USCCA Board Chair and now as a Board Emeritus Director.
Session Chair: Living the Faith in the Chinese Context
Mary Moran
Independent
Dr. Mary Moran is an education leader and former program officer with the U.S. Department of Education. She holds a Ph.D. from Saint Louis University and with extensive experience in educational leadership, policy engagement, and cross-cultural study. Mary has traveled throughout China and studies the Catholic Church in China. Mary also serves on the Catholic Advisory Council for Churches for Middle East Peace.
Synodality and the Sinicization of Catholicism in China
Dr. Mary Moran explores the relationship between synodality and the sinicization of Catholicism within contemporary Chinese ecclesial life. She examines the themes of communion, participation, and mission in light of the Vatican's Synod on Synodality and considers how these principles are being received and practiced in Chinese dioceses. Drawing on ongoing research, travel, and ecclesial observation, Mary incorporates insights from Dr. Cheng Siu Wai Venessa (a lecturer in ecclesiology, Mariology, and synodality at the Holy Spirit Institute of Theology and Religious Science, Hong Kong). The presentation will highlight the historic Synod participation of three mainland Chinese bishops appointed by Pope Francis and approved by the Chinese government. Additionally, attention will be given to developments in Hong Kong under the leadership of Cardinal Stephen Chow, including his pastoral letters and emerging concrete practices that embody synodal collaboration. Through case studies and analysis, the session highlights how synodal processes may contribute to locally rooted expressions of Catholic life within China.
Kathleen O’Brien
Maryknoll Mission Society
Kathleen O’Brien’s commitment to her Catholic faith and passion for Chinese culture began during her undergraduate studies in religious studies and philosophy at Bradley University. After graduation, she served three years as a Maryknoll lay missionary in China, teaching English at Jilin Agricultural College and Jilin Catholic Seminary. Those formative years led her to Chicago, where she earned a master’s degree in systematic theology from Catholic Theological Union. From fall 2021 through spring 2023, she served as a full-time staff member of the US-China Catholic Association, launching and developing the Chinese and American Friendship Ministry. She currently lives in Berkeley, California, where she works with Maryknoll in the Mission Formation Department. Through her ministry and leadership, she seeks to foster enduring friendships between Chinese and American Catholics, rooted in shared faith and mutual discovery.
East Meets West: Matteo Ricci as a Model of Cross-Cultural Friendship
Kathleen O’Brien examines Matteo Ricci as a theological model of cross-cultural friendship, highlighting how his method of accommodation embodied a dialogical and Christ-centered approach to mission. Drawing on intercultural theology, she explores the intellectual, spiritual, and pastoral influences that shaped Ricci’s openness toward Chinese scholars and officials. Particular attention is given to his engagement with Confucian moral philosophy, his integration of faith and reason, and his efforts to articulate Christianity in culturally accessible forms. Ricci’s nuanced position within the later Chinese Rites Controversy further illuminates enduring tensions between fidelity and inculturation. By presenting Ricci’s life as a lived expression of humility, intellectual rigor, and sustained accompaniment, the session translates his approach into contemporary pastoral practice. The presentation offers theological grounding and practical insight for cultivating trust, dialogue, and enduring friendship across cultural boundaries within today’s global Church.
Zichan Qiu
University of Illinois, Chicago
Zichan Qiu is a Ph.D. student in the Department of History at the University of Illinois, Chicago. She received the MPhil degree in Anthropology from the University of Hong Kong (2021) and a MA in Comparative and Public History from the Chinese University of Hong Kong (2017).
The Faith Journey of Chinese Catholics in Jamaica, 1900 to 1957
Drawing from her dissertation research, Zichan Qiu examines Chinese Jamaican Catholics within broader global conversations on diaspora, identity, and the localization of faith. The study traces the formation of Chinese civic organizations in Jamaica and their role in shaping social networks, economic stability, and eventual religious development. It then explores the growth of Chinese Catholicism in the early twentieth century, including the emergence of Chinese Catholic Action and collaboration between clergy and laity. Finally, the presentation analyzes the creolization of ancestor worship practices, demonstrating how Confucian traditions and Catholic teaching were negotiated within a diasporic context. By highlighting lay agency and intercultural adaptation, the paper offers a nuanced perspective on global Chinese Catholic history and cross-cultural encounter.
Rosie Shawver
Catholic Campus Ministry Association
Rosie Shawver is an Executive Director of the Catholic Campus Ministry Association (CCMA). She brings more than twenty years of experience in campus and pastoral ministry. She previously led campus ministry at the University of Southern California and the University of New Mexico and served as Executive Director of the Catholic Association for Latino Leadership. Her ministry background also includes service along the U.S.–Mexico border and with Catholic Charities in New Mexico. Rosie holds a B.S. in Psychology from the University of California, San Diego, a Master of Divinity from the Jesuit School of Theology of Santa Clara University (Berkeley), and a certificate in Nonprofit Management from Indiana University. Her leadership centers on strengthening campus ministries nationwide and equipping leaders to foster transformative communities of faith, dialogue, and missionary engagement.
The Role of Campus Resources and Opportunities to Create a Culture of Meaningful Encounter with Chinese International Students
Rosie Shawver explores how Catholic campus ministries can intentionally foster sustained accompaniment rooted in hospitality and trust. Across U.S. universities, Chinese international students bring remarkable cultural and intellectual gifts, yet many experience culture shock, homesickness, and isolation as they navigate unfamiliar social and political landscapes. In a time of global tension and distance from family, students often long quietly for friendship, understanding, and belonging. Drawing from national campus ministry experience through CCMA, the session outlines practical ways campus resources, pastoral structures, and formation initiatives can be aligned to move beyond one-time programs toward enduring relationships. By cultivating spaces of welcome, dialogue, and shared service, campus ministries can become communities of authentic encounter that form students and ministers alike for lives of faith, leadership, and cross-cultural understanding.
Session Co-Chair: Accompanying International Students: Friendship, Learning, and Meaning
Sr. Shuangyin Shen
Loyola University, Chicago
A member of the Francescane Missionarie della Beata Assunta Pallotta (Yuci Diocese, Shanxi), Sr. Shen returned to China in 2011 following specialized training in pastoral psychology and has served in pastoral ministry across multiple regions for fourteen years. Her academic formation includes studies at Tongji Medical College (Wuhan), a Master’s degree in Pastoral Psychological Counseling and Spiritual Care from Fordham University, and an MA in Spiritual Direction from Loyola University Chicago (2025). She is a mental health mentor with the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Psychology, a member of the Chinese Psychological Association, and founder and general supervisor of two counseling centers in central Shanxi.
Nourishing Faith and Fellowship: Walking in the Way of Christ: Faith Warms Midlife Crisis, the Mission of a Chinese Sister
Sr. Shuangyin Shen introduces Faith Filling Station (信仰加油站), a 12-week pastoral care program addressing midlife crisis among Chinese Catholic believers through the integration of pastoral psychology and Ignatian spirituality. Drawing on extensive clinical practice and supervisory experience, she presents a structured framework that supports adults navigating anxiety, loss, and questions of vocational meaning through sustained psychological-spiritual accompaniment.
Kathy Stout
USCCA
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. Dr. Stout has been serving as a USCCA Book Circle organizer since February 2024.
Session Chair: Vatican, China, Faith Partnerships
Vicky Lianghui Sun
Co-founder, Wise Promise Advisory
Lianghui “Vicky” Sun is a scholar and consultant with a deep commitment to faith, ethics, and cross-cultural engagement. She holds a Master of Theological Studies from the University of Notre Dame, specializing in ancient Chinese philosophies and comparative theology, and a Bachelor of Arts in Politics from the University of Dallas, where she focused on political theology and the ecclesiology of St. Robert Bellarmine. As the co-founder of Wise Promise Advisory, Vicky works with international businesses on ethical strategy, media engagement, and corporate philanthropy. Her multilingual abilities and experience in legal, academic, and business fields equip her to bridge diverse perspectives in service of faith and mission.
Unity in the Open Field: The International Community in a Beijing Parish
In the 11:00 AM English Mass at the North Church (Beitang), the international community does not just observe; they belong. It is a sanctuary of radical welcome: an international student choir, volunteers from every continent, and children of all colors receiving blessings. It is a space where the "universal" in Catholic is not a concept, but a Sunday morning reality. This unity is a continuation of a journey that began in 1601, when Matteo Ricci first entered Beijing and stood before the empty chair of the Ming Emperor, representing a presence that transcends physical thrones. The "next step" for the Church in China is an invitation to witness this communion, the Chinese missionary journey, the enrichment of the universal Church, all for the glory of God.
Naomi Thurston
Chinese University of Hong Kong
Naomi Thurston is Director of the China Christianity Studies Group and Assistant Professor at The Chinese University of Hong Kong. She serves as Associate Editor of Ching Feng: A Journal on Christianity and Chinese Religion and Culture. Her scholarship focuses on Chinese Christianities, global theology, and the historiography of Sino-Christian studies. She is the author of Studying Christianity in China: Constructions of an Emerging Discourse (Brill, 2018), co-editor of Moltmann and China (Brill, 2023), and author of Moltmann in China (Routledge, 2025). Through her research and editorial work, she contributes to international scholarly conversations on theology, contextualization, and the interpretation of Christianity within Chinese cultural and intellectual frameworks.
Intercultural Studies of Chinese Christianities
Naomi Thurston offers a historiographical overview of Sino-Christian studies from early Jesuit accounts to contemporary scholarship. The presentation examines three interrelated dimensions shaping the study of Chinese Christianities: confessional motivations influencing missionary and Chinese Christian narratives; cultural imperatives of adaptation and contextualization; and the diverse scholarly rationales guiding present-day research. By tracing developments from seventeenth-century encounters through modern academic discourse, she highlights how theological, cultural, and methodological commitments continue to shape interpretation. Integrating historical, theological, and critical perspectives, the session invites reflection on how Chinese Christianities are studied, constructed, and situated within global Christian conversations. In doing so, it challenges participants to consider the responsibilities and assumptions embedded within scholarly engagement and to reflect on the evolving relationship between faith, culture, and academic inquiry.
Session Chair: Catholic Faith Across Cultures
Anne Tsui
USCCA
Dr. Anne Tsui (PhD.) is a longlife academic who has worked in several universities both in the US and in China. She is currently Professor emerita at Arizona State University, and Distinguished Visiting Professor at Peking University and Fudan University, China. She is the 67th President of the Academy of Management, a Fellow of the Academy of International Business, and the 14th Editor of the Academy of Management Journal. Since 2000, Dr. Tsui has worked with the leading business schools of China, and she founded the International Association for Chinese Management Research and the journal “Management and Organization Review” that publishes primarily Chinese research . She has been a leading force in the development of Chinese management research. In addition, as a co-founder of the Responsible Research in Business and Management, led a global effort to transform business research into a force for the common good.
Session Co-Chair: Accompanying International Students: Friendship, Learning, and Meaning
Paul Wang
Independent
Paul Wang is a retired information technology professional who has dedicated his post-career vocation to fostering faith and community among Chinese international students and young professionals. At the University of Washington, he has led the Alpha Course and the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA), creating welcoming spaces for students to explore life’s deepest questions and the Christian faith. He holds Master’s degrees in Theology and Computer Science. His ministry focuses on relational evangelization, mentorship, and cultivating spiritually grounded communities shaped by hospitality, trust, and cross-cultural understanding.
Building a Home for Faith at the University of Washington
Paul Wang addresses the pastoral challenges facing Chinese international students who often experience cultural isolation and spiritual dislocation. Drawing on the Alpha model, he highlights hospitality, shared meals, and small-group dialogue as essential foundations for trust-building and accompaniment. Through mentorship and culturally attentive evangelization initiatives—including the Alpha Chinese Film Series—the ministry prioritizes relationship before instruction. By creating spaces where students feel welcomed and understood, this approach fosters authentic belonging and sustained spiritual growth. The presentation offers a practical model of friendship-centered outreach that integrates evangelization with cultural sensitivity, forming communities where discipleship develops organically through trust, dialogue, and shared life within the university setting.
Stephanie Wong
Villanova University
Professor Stephanie Wong is a scholar of East Asian Christianity and Chinese religions, with particular expertise in Chinese Catholicism, Confucianism, and Buddhism. She teaches at Villanova University. She earned her Ph.D. from Georgetown University, an M.Div. from Yale Divinity School, and a B.A. from Washington University in St. Louis. Her monograph, Making Catholicism Chinese (Oxford University Press, 2025), advances new scholarship on Catholic–Confucian encounter and the development of Chinese Catholic theological identity. She is active in the Catholic Theological Society of America and the American Academy of Religion, contributing to ongoing conversations in comparative theology and Christianity in China.
Total Sacrifice, True Charity, Constant Joy: The Spirituality of Vincent Lebbe and the first Chinese Religious Orders
In this presentation, Professor Stephanie Wong examines the emergence of the first modern Chinese Catholic congregations founded by Fr. Vincent Lebbe (Lei Mingyuan) in the late 1920s. Established under Chinese episcopal leadership following the 1926 consecration of Chinese bishops, the Little Brothers of St. John the Baptist and the Little Sisters of St. Thérèse of the Holy Child represented a decisive turn toward ecclesial indigenization. Wong explores Lebbe’s vision of an “apostolic-monastic” spirituality—rooted in total sacrifice, true charity, and constant joy—that united contemplative discipline with active pastoral service. Situating these communities within the political upheavals of Republican China, she highlights the creative tensions between monastic life, patriotic commitment, and missionary zeal, illuminating how early Chinese Catholics articulated a spiritually resilient and nationally engaged identity.
Chiaretto Yan
University of Saint Joseph, Macau
Chiaretto Yan (甄健湘) is a visiting professor at the University of Saint Joseph (Macau), the National Seminary of China (Beijing), and seminaries throughout China. A consecrated member of the Focolare Movement, he holds a Doctorate in Practical Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University (Rome), a second doctorate in Interdisciplinary Studies from the Sophia University Institute (Florence), and a Master of Arts in Oriental Religions and Cultures from the University of Santo Tomas (Manila). He is the author of Evangelization in China (Orbis Books 2014) and My Chinese Dream: Dialogues and Encounters with Christianity (Orbis Books 2025).
"Chinese Wisdom and Christian Faith: On Wisdom"
Drawing from his recent work, My Chinese Dream, Chiaretto Yan’s presentation explores intercultural dialogue, inculturation, and the Christian–Chinese encounter. Integrating historical reflection, theological analysis, and personal testimony, he examines Christianity’s early presence in China, its dialogue with Chinese thought, China-Holy See relations, and contemporary bridge-building rooted in trust, harmony, and the Gospel.
Weaving Relationships of Communion and Resilient Engagement between China and the Vatican
In a world with escalating geopolitical tensions, widening ideological divides, and persistent conflicts, the Catholic Church emerges as a vital moral force for peace. After almost 50 years of non-communication, in 2018, China and the Holy See signed a provisional agreement, enabling a framework for ongoing dialogue and untying knots. This evolving relationship may become one of the most consequential of the 21st century, illustrating how communion and engagement provide the ground for faith and hope in developing mutual understanding and friendship. Drawing from my encounters with recent pontiffs – successive popes – I will share personal testimonies and analysis on the impact of their leadership on these dynamics.
Gabriella Yang
Verbiest Foundation, Belgium
Gabriella Yang works at the Verbiest Foundation in Leuven in Belgium.
Promoting communicative catechesis in China based on Our Common Journey and Catechesis in the Field of Communication
Gabriella proposes the renewal of catechesis in China through a “communicative approach,” drawing on Our Common Journey (the Adult Catechumenate) and Catechesis in the Field of Communication. Situating the discussion within the historical development of the Church in China since the Reform and Opening-Up period, the presenter notes that while sacramental life has been restored, catechesis often remains limited to doctrinal transmission and memorization. In response to contemporary social change and the growing intellectual engagement of adult catechumens, the paper advocates for small-group, dialogical formation rooted in God’s self-communication. Communicative catechesis emphasizes encounter, shared reflection, and integration of faith with lived experience. The presentation further explores pathways for contextualization within Chinese culture, highlighting resonances between the Gospel and traditional concepts such as ren, filial piety, and harmony. By promoting interactive formation and trained accompaniment, the proposal envisions catechesis that forms mature Christians capable of sustained faith and meaningful dialogue in contemporary society.
Sr. Xin Yu
Ateneo de Manila University
Brief Biography: Sr. Xin Yu is a Catholic Sister and belongs to Baoding Diocese, China. She is a Pre-Novitiate Formator. She has a Master of Counseling Psychology (De La Salle University, Manila, August 2025) focusing on Youth Development and is currently studying Formation in the Psychological and Spiritual Integration aera at Ateneo de Manila University.
Psychological Integration and Spiritual Maturity among Catholic Religious Women in Mainland China: A Developmental Study
Xin Yu explores the relationship between spiritual maturity, emotional regulation, and health-related quality of life among 128 Catholic religious women in mainland China, from 30 cities in 15 provinces. Using the Spiritual Maturity Index (SMI), emotional regulation measures, and the SF-36 health survey, her research hypothesized that higher spiritual maturity would correlate with stronger emotional regulation and better overall well-being. The findings show no relationships between spiritual maturity, emotional regulation, and health-related quality of life. Emotional regulation functioned as a relatively independent psychological skill, while spiritual maturity followed a distinct developmental path. A small negative correlation was found between spiritual maturity and general health. Drawing on theories by Scott Peck and James Fowler, the study suggests that spiritual growth may involve inner struggle and meaning-making rather than psychological comfort. The findings highlight the need for formation programs that foster deeper reflection and integration beyond emotional stability alone.