The Cultural Tour of China 2026
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by Dr. Benjamin T. OuYang, Executive Director of the US-China Catholic Association
Last Sunday, May 24, was a special day for three reasons. It happened to be Pentecost and the universal Day of Prayer for the Church in China. It was also the feast of Mary, Help of Christians, on the Catholic calendar. What a glorious combination of these three occasions that match together perfectly!
For Chinese Catholics, the Shrine of Our Lady of Sheshan near Shanghai has long been a place of devotion. Under the loving protection of Our Lady, believers throughout China continue to live their faith with courage, hope, and perseverance.
I had the privilege of visiting this Marian Shrine last month on a tour organized by Peter Tan, the Chairman of the USCCA Board — the Cultural Tour of China 2026. While at the shrine, we ascended up a steep hill lined with the beautiful Stations of the Cross. Although the climb was arduous, it was nothing compared to the walk to Calvary. Throughout the walk, I found myself thinking not only about the history of the Church in China but also about my own family, especially my mom and daughter. My mom, because she was converted to Catholicism in Shanghai, and my daughter, a religious sister with the Servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matará, who would have loved to have seen this church. In the Shrine, there were beautiful blue banners in Chinese on each aisle and a breathtaking statue of Mother Mary above the altar. I became overwhelmed with emotion, realizing that my mother may very well have prayed—and perhaps even been baptized—in that very shrine decades ago.
Our tour took place from April 17 to 27. A total of fourteen participants from different parts of the U.S. visited five Chinese provinces across thousands of miles. We visited important Catholic churches as well as famous cultural sites, all while bonding with each other in an unforgettable way.
On behalf of the USCCA, I warmly invite you to attend an online round-table discussion of our experience on the Cultural Tour of China 2026. How did this trip change our views of China? What signs did we see that revealed the depth and grandeur of the Chinese civilization? What aspects of faith inspired us as we moved across the boundaries of language, nationality, politics, and history? How did we encounter the presence of God and the unity of the Body of Christ?
Please tune in as we discuss these questions and more about our amazing cultural tour of China on Thursday, June 18, 2026. This will also be our inaugural event for a new USCCA program called “Friendship Happy Hour.”
Click here to register so we can send you the link to participate in this virtual discussion.
Dr. Benjamin T. OuYang is the Executive Director of the US-China Catholic Association. Prior to joining the USCCA, he served as a podcast host and coordinator for the US Catholic Missions Association. He has extensive experience in youth ministry, marriage ministry, OCIA, prison ministry, and missionary work. A lifelong educator, Dr. OuYang dedicated thirty-two years to public education, including fifteen years as a school administrator.
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