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Have you heard about the USCCA's Study Tours ? Since its inception in 1989, the US-China Catholic Association has had the blessing of bringing church leaders, scholars, graduate students, journalists, and other interested individuals to China with the purpose of helping them better understand Chinese society and the circumstances of the Christians who live there. Today, we are glad to share that a Study Tour is being planned for October 2025. Study Tours include opportunities to visit churches in China This Study Tour will include 15 days (October 11–23) in mainland China . Food and lodging will be organized as part of the Study Tour; travel to Beijing (from each participant’s home country) and from Beijing (returning to each participant’s home country) are the responsibility of each participant . The mainland portion of the trip is beautifully described by the Verbiest Foundation, who will be facilitating the USCCA trip in conjunction with a group from Brussels: The journey begins in Beijing . There will be a visit to the tombs of Ricci, Schall, Verbiest, and others. Of course, the former Imperial Palace, Tiananmen Square and the Temple of Heaven are also on the program, as are the Beijing National Stadium, the North Cathedral (where we will attend mass) and the old Verbiest Observatory, the Great Wall of China, and others. And of course we will also feast on the famous glazed Peking duck! VF PhotoArchive - The Tiger Valley (Laohugou) We will travel by bus to Chengde (Rehe), halfway between Chaoyang and Beijing, which is another 230 km. Here we will visit a beautiful summer palace built by the Manchu emperors. The emperors resided here from May to October. A visit to Laohugou is also planned, a small Catholic village in the direction of Beijing, the place where Theofiel Verbist, founder of the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart of Mary (CICM), died of typhus in 1868. He was buried there along with other Scheut fathers. His body was later transferred to Scheut-Brussels. As we do elsewhere, we will contact the local Christian community to show our solidarity. We will also visit the Tibetan Bodala Palace in Chengde. The visit to the city of Chaoyang is entirely in the context of the history of the Scheut fathers in China: a visit to the former main post and later seat of the diocese, Songshuzuizi. Even today, the Verbiest Foundation supports various initiatives of the Catholic community in this region. It is a nice introduction to the North Chinese countryside and its inhabitants. VF PhotoArchive - The Church in Xiwanzi today The journey continues to western Liaoning, an area where the Scheut fathers worked from 1865 to around 1950, as in neighboring Jehol. In Fuxin , we will visit the church community. We will travel to Shenyang , the capital of the southern province of Manchuria, by high-speed train. A visit to the imperial palace, built in 1635, reveals the nomadic past of the Qing emperors. After that we will travel on to Xi'an , where we will visit Xi'an Cathedral, the city walls of Xi'an, the museum of the Qin Shi Huang terra-cotta army, and others. We will also watch a Chinese classical dance performance from the Tang dynasty. In Zhangjiakou , we plan to visit Xiwanzi, the village where Theofiel Verbist (the founder of CICM) began his missions in China. Since the Foundation does not have a travel license, the trip will be organized by a recognized travel agency called China Commercial International Travel Service. The trip will be accompanied by an English-speaking tour guide. Accommodation will be in standard three- or four-star hotels; meals will be adapted to Western travelers. The price of the trip (full board, excursions, transportation by airplane, train, bus and entrance fees included) is approximately 2220 EUR per person for a twin room. For a single room, the price is 2910 EUR per person. The prices do NOT include the flight tickets...These must be purchased on your own initiative. Are you interested in joining us? Click here to register for the October 2025 Study Tour today! ---------------------- 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.

by Peter Tan, Chair, USCCA Board of Directors On June 10, 2025, my wife Selina and I paid a visit to the Ferdinand Verbiest Foundation in Leuven, Belgium. We were welcomed by Verbiest Foundation Founder Fr. Jeroom Heyndrickx, CICM, and USCCA supporter Sr. Gaby. We were graciously housed at their Chinese College within the Catholic University of Leuven (KU Leuven), founded in 1425. Fr. Jeroom and I had three sessions of discussions. He is very keen for our two organizations to collaborate on many programs like China tours, conferences, lectures and written articles on the Church in China. He instructed Sr. Gaby and Fr. Matthew Gong (he was in China at the time) to work closely with us. Our first project will be the Study Tour from October 11–23, 2025. This Study Tour's agenda includes such destinations as Beijing North Cathedral, Chengde Imperial Summer Resort, and Shenyang Forbidden City. If you are interested in participating, we invite you to register for the study tour today . Fr. Jeroom founded the Verbiest Foundation in 1982, seven years before the USCCA's founding. Its mission, in many ways, is quite similar to the USCCA's, although it is a much bigger entity, doing more. I am looking forward to the USCCA working with them. Born in Indonesia and raised in Singapore, Peter Tan is the Chair of the USCCA Board of Directors. He graduated from the University of Hawaii in 1977 with a double BA Degree in Business Administration and Political Science. He is a Knight Commander with Star of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. ---------------------- 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.

Beijing, China Have you registered yet for the USCCA's upcoming October 2025 Study Tour in mainland China? Today, we invite you to consider the memories shared by a previous Study Tour participant: I’ve been fortunate to have participated...Favorite cities visited included Hong Kong, Beijing, Xian, Shijiazhuang, Zhengzhou, Tianjin, Baoding, among others. The Chinese citizens were very welcoming and China has outstanding food! A few of my most inspirational experiences included participating in Masses concelebrated by priests from the United States and mainland China, visiting the Holy Spirit Research Center in Hong Kong, visiting so many beautiful churches throughout China (many of which are designated historical landmarks), witnessing vibrant Catholic communities, observing exemplary social justice outreach, insightful discussions with priests and nuns – many of whom received training in the United States, and of course, climbing the Great Wall of China...I’m looking forward to future trips to China. You may click here to register today for the upcoming October Study Tour . The October Study Tour will be held on October 11–23, 2025; to learn more about the destinations planned during that time, we invite you to click here for the tour's itinerary . ---------------------- 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.

As recounted in a recent Catholic News Agency report , Pope Leo XIV recently said that "A pilgrimage has a vital part to play in our life of faith for it removes us from our homes and our daily routines and gives us time and space to encounter God more deeply." Have you ever experienced a deepening of faith as a result of travel or pilgrimage? Did it help you understand and connect with friends in the global Church? ---------------------- 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.

Chiaretto Yan, USCCA contributor and theologian, has shared a slides with us from his recent scholarly presentation, "Chinese Wisdom and Christian Faith: On Harmony." We invite you to view these slides as education and meditation on the connection between Christian faith and Chinese wisdom: Click here to download Prof. Yan's presentation Chiaretto Yan is a lay Catholic theologian and a seminary professor in China. His upcoming book, My Chinese Dream: Dialogues and Encounters with Christianity , is currently available for pre-order. ---------------------- 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.

by Fr. John Li, priest from a northern diocese in China Praise Him with the trumpet, praise Him with the harp, Praise Him with tambourine and dance, Praise Him with strings and flutes, Praise Him with loud cymbals, Praise Him with clanging cymbals. (Psalm 150:3–5) This is a moving passage in the Old Testament, which conveys the story of praising God. People have been singing God’s praises with music for centuries. The sacred music of the Catholic Church comes from the faith life of God's people, and its Biblical purpose is to praise the God of Israel. In ancient times, the Jews praised God through music in their prayers; today, sacred music also helps God's people to pray. A musician said, "It is not easy to give an accurate definition of sacred music, because the definition or concept of an era often generalizes. The definition of Gregorian sacred music does not conform to the definition of sacred music in other musical forms, and the application and creation of modern sacred music are different from the type of Gregorian sacred music." Therefore, the form of sacred music will be diverse because it is not an end but a tool or method. Through sacred music, people's souls are moved, the faith of believers is more lively, and they can actively enter into prayer and talk with the Lord. After the Second Vatican Council, the Church encouraged the celebration of Mass in different languages; the mother tongue of people in modern sacred music encourages believers to participate more actively in the liturgy. The Council pointed out, "Popular religious songs should also be promoted so that in the zealous good works, even in the liturgical behavior, according to the principles and laws of the liturgy, the singing of believers can be heard." I think modern sacred music holds such a possibility. Contemporary sacred music is a modern believer’s voice expressing a long-cherished wish to praise God in the form of music. When observing the current situation of Catholic sacred music in the Chinese language, we can see that Catholic classical sacred music—for example, Gregorian Chant—is gradually losing status among faithful Catholics, especially the young. There are many factors at work. In contrast, modern music has developed greatly in recent years. At the same time, in the Chinese Catholic Church, some young believers have begun to use their musical talents to create some sacred music of their own. They integrate their faith and life experiences into music and express their faith-feelings in the form of modern sacred music. Against this background, some friends and I have formed a music group called Grace Song. First, the purpose and original intention of our group was to spread God's grace through beautiful music; to pass on God's hope and healing power to people. Thus, we call our group "Grace Song." Secondly, our group is composed of believers from different faith traditions. We all have our own lives and work, so we can only come together during our rest time. Some people have the grace of creating melodies, some are good at writing lyrics, some are singers, and some are responsible for singing, recording and video creation. We dedicate what we have received from God to fulfill our mission. Among our works, there is a song that was recorded by a group of nuns who quietly dedicate their lives to God and faith. The lyrics are about the dedication, tranquillity, simplicity and holiness of these nuns. Another song describes those who work hard for God's cause. After hearing this song, a priest said, "This is what God has done in my life, and this is also the story of my following Jesus." Another song tells the story of those who lost their way on the road of life and returned. "Standing alone at the intersection of home, with wrinkles on their faces, worried, as if chained, crying in sorrow", but they "walk all the way to the Lord, because the Lord is their way home, God stretches out his hands, opens his arms, and waits for a long time." Our group is not mainly about composing traditional sacred music. We prefer to use modern sacred music to tell the story of modern people and God. When Pope Francis was in office, his thoughts and actions pointed out a path for us, that is, the path of encounter with culture. Francis said, "There is always a movement in the encounter. If we all stand still, we will never meet." In fact, modern sacred music is revealing such an encounter, allowing God and modern people to meet, allowing sacred music to meet modern art, allowing people to meet each other in art, and allowing oneself to meet oneself in music. Regarding sacred music, Pope Francis said: "Sacred music builds bridges and brings people closer to the supernatural." He added: "Not only sacred music, but also music in general can build bridges to bring people, including those who are alienated, closer to each other; music has no barriers of nationality, race and skin color, but allows everyone to enter a noble language and always brings different people and groups into harmony. Sacred music can also eliminate the distance between us and those alienated brothers and sisters." A musician once applied the word "embrace" to the relationship between traditional sacred music and modern music. He said: "When the two embrace, I believe that it will expand the vision of the Church and sing God's 'new song' that transcends time and space and is close to the present in every place, era and situation." Yes, let traditional sacred music embrace modern music. In addition, God can also embrace modern people through modern sacred music, and people can embrace their own hearts. Below, I want to share a composition of ours. This song is called The Way Home. It is a song that awakens the soul. The Way Home is a heartfelt Catholic hymn that echoes the soul’s longing for love and the call to return. More than just a melody, it is a spiritual journey back to the One who has never stopped waiting. No matter how far you’ve wandered or how many times you’ve fallen, God’s arms remain open—His love unchanged. Let The Way Home lead you back to peace, hope, and the quiet joy of being found again (lyrics below). 归途（Title） The Way Home（Title） （Verse 1） 我孤独站在归途的路口 - I stand alone at the crossroads on the way home, 脸上苍桑映出岁月的愁 - My face is full of wrinkles reflecting the sorrow of the years, 一路跌撞心中虑忧 - I stumble along the way and worry in my heart, 仿佛桎梏中可怜泪流。As if I am in shackles and crying pitifully. （Verse 2） 我静静伫立在归途路口 - I stand quietly at the crossroads on the way home, 耶稣温柔话语唤我停留 - Jesus’ gentle words call me to stay, 回首过往人生茫茫 - Looking back at the vastness of my past life, 我灵哼唱主爱恩曲不休. My soul hums the song of the Lord's love and grace. （Bridge） 从无走到有，从迷茫到清醒 - From nothing to something, from confusion to sobriety, 从罪走到圣，从死亡到生命。From sin to holiness, from death to life. （Chorus） 啊，一路向主走，因为他是我的归途 - Ah, walk all the way to the Lord, because He is my way home, 他伸手，张开怀抱等我已久。He stretches out his hand and opens his arms to wait with me for a long time. 啊，一路向主走，因为他是我的归途 - Ah, walk all the way to the Lord, because He is my home, 漂泊的心，在他怀中涂抹喜乐的油。My wandering heart is anointed with the oil of joy in His arms. Fr. John Li is a priest from a northern diocese in China. To respect confidentiality, names have been changed in this blog. ---------------------- 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.

It is with heavy hearts and deep sorrow that we share the news of the passing of Ms. Martha Chan, who recently suffered a sudden stroke and is now resting in the peace of Christ. Martha was the Founder and CEO of Educational Resources and Referrals China ( ERRChina ), a role she carried with vision and dedication for the past 39 years. Motivated by her profound love for the Chinese people, she established ERRChina to foster understanding and build bridges through education, scholarly exchange, and research. Her work was not only pioneering but deeply rooted in compassion and mutual respect. The US-China Catholic Association (USCCA) has been honored to partner with Martha and her organization over the years. Our collaboration was especially meaningful through the lecture series and the Chinese and American Friendship Ministry in Berkeley. We are deeply saddened by this loss. Martha’s unwavering commitment to the people of China, her generous spirit, and her tireless efforts to promote mutual understanding have left an indelible mark on all who knew her. Her legacy will continue to inspire us, and her absence will be deeply felt. We hold Martha, her family, and all who mourn her in our prayers during this time of grief. May she rest in the eternal peace of Christ.

Have you signed up for the upcoming Free Public Video Lecture featuring Dr. Stephanie Wong, Assistant Professor of Comparative Theology, East Asian Religions, Systematic and Constructive Theology at Villanova University? At 7pm ET on July 31, Dr. Wong will present on the topic of "Christian-Confucian Dialogue in the Contemporary World." Click here to sign up for this free public lecture, accessible via live video . In the weeks leading up to Dr. Wong's free public video lecture, we invite you to learn from some of her prior works: Villanova University's YouTube account showcases a lecture by Dr. Wong on the topic of ""Should Governments Regulate Religions? Perspectives from Christianity and Confucianism" . Georgetown University has published a video of a panel discussion featuring Dr. Wong on the topic of "Theology without Borders: Essays in Honor of Peter C. Phan" . In the St. Andrews Encyclopaedia of Theology, an entry on Chinese Christian Theology by Alexander Chow and Stephanie Wong teaches us about the history of theology cultivated through the Church in China. For more about Dr. Wong and her accomplishments, we invite you to read her faculty bio on the Villanova University website . Don't forget to read our recent blog about her upcoming free public video lecture ! All are invited to sign up as a virtual attendee . ---------------------- 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.

On this Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, we invite you to consider the acts of service that are made possible through friendships among God's people. At this time last year, such acts of service were exemplified among the Church in China as brothers and sisters in Christ joined in support of flood victims. We invite you to read more about what happened in this article from Agenzia Fides . May all of our friendships aim to glorify God through service even in difficult circumstances! Original photo of Baoding Cathedral, licensed by Vardion under CC BY-SA 3.0 ---------------------- 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.

The USCCA celebrates opportunities for dialogue and mutual learning. For that reason, we invite you to read a book about the Church in China this summer! Available from Ignatius Press In On the Road , renowned photographer Lu Nan documents the life of the Church in China through imagery across over 100 churches located in ten Chinese provinces. This book is available from Ignatius Press for 20% off with the discount code USCCAOnTheRoad20 . Available from Angelico Press In Chinese Humanism and Christian Spirituality , Chinese Catholic legal scholar and statesman John C. H. Wu explores the wisdom of ancient Chinese sages through the lens of his Catholic faith. This book is being discussed in 2025 by the USCCA Book Circle ! Wu's classic can be purchased from Angelico Press at a 15% discount with the discount code wu15 . We hope that you are able to join us this summer in reading abut the Church in China. As an additional summer learning opportunity, please sign up for the upcoming free virtual lecture by Dr. Stephanie Wong, who will be speaking at 7pm on July 31 on the topic of "Christian-Confucian Dialogue in the Contemporary World." ---------------------- 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.

Dr. Benjamin T. OuYang has accepted the Executive Director position with the USCCA. Dr. OuYang is a retired public educator who served for over thirty years. During his professional educational career, Dr. OuYang worked as a school counselor, an Assistant Principal, a Principal and then a Director. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Rochester and a Master's in School Counseling and a Ph.D. in Educational Administration from the University of Maryland. He also has several years of training in the diaconate program. Dr. OuYang has over fifteen years of experience as a youth group leader, twelve years as a Married Couples Group Coordinator, and over twenty years as an English Ministry Liaison for Our Lady of China Pastoral Mission in Rockville, Maryland. Dr. OuYang worked for the US Catholic Mission Association, where he was a podcast coordinator and host. He has also been on several mission trips, and has diverse experiences with OCIA, prison ministry, food pantry, and serving as an Eucharistic Minister, Lector, and Acolyte. Dr. OuYang has been married to his wife Jia-Shieu for thirty years this June, and they have three children: Kaitlin, Jackson, and Timothy. Kaitlin—whose religious name is Sister Ma Li Ya Zhi Ai Zhi Nu (A Chinese name meaning Sister Mary Beloved Daughter)— is a nun with the religious order of the Servants of the Lord and the Virgin Matara, Jackson is a sophomore at Penn State University, and Timothy will be a freshman at Belmont Abbey College. The USCCA is personal to Dr. OuYang. His mother was converted to Catholicism in Shanghai, China. In the late 1930s, a wonderful missionary reached out and built a relationship with Dr. OuYang's mother and her family. As an immigrant to the US, his mom was all alone, but was taken care of by the Sisters of the Sacred Heart. Those relationships and acts of friendship have had a lasting impact on the OuYang family. In his opening remarks to the world, our new Pope Leo shared: We are disciples of Christ, Christ goes before us, and the world needs His light. Humanity needs Him like a bridge to reach God and His love. You help us to build bridges with dialogue and encounter so we can all be one people always in peace. The USCCA’s mission is aligned with Pope Leo XIV's hopes and prayers. We are called to build bridges to develop dialogue and friendships with every individual that we encounter. Please pray for Dr. OuYang as he begins the process to lead USCCA in building bridges and establishing new friendships in a world that needs peace so much. ---------------------- 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.

On June 11, 2025, Joseph Lin Yuntuan was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of Fuzhou, China. On behalf of the entire USCCA family, congratulations, Bishop Lin Yuntuan on your appointment to the Archdiocese of Fuzhou. May your leadership be inspired by the Holy Spirit to promote faith, hope and love for the better good of your faithful. Our prayers are with you and your archdiocese. City of Fuzhou, China ---------------------- 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.