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The US-China Catholic Association is proud make available Chinese-and-English Bibles that Chinese Catholics throughout the country worked so hard to typeset and publish. These beautiful volumes have Chinese in one column and English in a parallel column. They are available in both traditional Chinese and simplified Chinese text. The Chinese text in these volumes is taken from the Sigao version of the Bible, first published in the 1960s. While written in contemporary speech, this elegant translation captures the nuance and cadence of classical Chinese. The English text is from the New American Bible, which was updated in 1986 and is authorized by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Both versions are highly faithful to the original Greek and Hebrew texts. These volumes are perfect for students from Taiwan, mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau, and other Chinese-speaking regions who are learning English. For people who have been in the United States for many years, they offer the opportunity to read Scripture both in English and in a familiar Chinese version. And they are a great resource for English speakers who are studying Chinese. Commentary taken from the New American Bible can be found at the bottom of each page. It offers helpful historical and theological insight to the biblical text. Learn more about these volumes and the story behind them by visiting our website here . We hope that they enhance your devotion and your study of Scripture, and that they can be of help for neighbors, friends, or students with whom you work. Learn more and order here >

Mission Sunday, October 22, 2023 by Tom McGuire, a USCCA Board member In the dark loneliness of political tension between China and the United States, where is joy? Matteo Ricci, the 16th-century Jesuit missionary in China, wrote, “A world without friends is a world without joy.” Something to ponder in light of our USCCA mission of building bridges of friendship and dialogue with the people of China. The USCCA initiated a Chinese and America Ministry of Friendship at four U.S. university campuses during the past year. Indeed, we witnessed friendship fostering joy. Catholic university students experiencing the joy of friendship in Christ responded to the missionary call of the Holy Spirit and invited Chinese students to share food and conversation. The result was joyful friendly gatherings that encouraged reflections and cultural dialogue One Chinese Catholic participant shared with me his experience of joyful dialogue with no demands or pressure. The conversations created intimacy and friendship. This is missing in the celebration of Catholic Mass. Catholics when they gather for Mass, need to experience shared conversations that create intimacy and friendship, to experience communion with one another in Christ. Others discovered friendship is a way of sharing personal experiences of God with others, even those of with no faith in God. Some became curious about the Catholic Church and asked questions. Some even wanted to experience the Catholic Mass. Seeds were planted, and the joy of the Gospel awakened desires for the fullness of life. The little steps of hospitality made possible the transformation of human hearts to accept the gift of friendship in Christ. Let us Pray Come, Holy Spirit, in this seemingly joyless world, inspire in us, confidence that Jesus is our truest and closest friend. May the joy of His friendship glow so brightly in us that others open their hearts to His love. Help each of us engage in a ministry of friendship so we may discover the different faces of one humanity. We are grateful for what we have learned from dialogue with Chinese friends. Send us friends to continue the USCCA Ministry of Friendship. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen Shalom, Tom McGuire "The Hebrew word “shalom” embodies this sense of harmonious relationships and peace that we can strive for day to day. To reach that goal, we will learn how to communicate love for our enemies and peace." Dunams, Alicia.

We come to you now to ask for your support of our 2023 Annual Appeal. We pray that you will stand by us. All donations, however large or small, are most welcomed and appreciated. ​ Your interest in and your spiritual and financial support for the USCCA will keep us moving forward! ​ We're also very pleased to introduce you to new board leadership including Peter Tan (our new Board Chair) and two new Board members, Carolyn Woo and Herb Quinde. Through the generosity of your support and partnership, the USCCA has managed to stay ahead of expenses, all while reimagining our work with college and university students through the Chinese and American Friendship Ministry (CAAFM). Piloted throughout 2022-23, the Fall 2022 Annual Appeal will be the key to continuing our programming and promoting our mission. In an era when tensions within the U.S., the Americas, across the Gulf region and beyond to the Pacific drive people apart, the USCCA’s promotion of dialogue, faith and friendship, encountering and belonging, welcoming and mutual respect is more relevant than ever. The upcoming Fall 2023 Annual Appeal will run through the month of December 2023. Currently, the USCCA has set an overall campaign goal of $200,000; during the pre-campaign/silent phase, USCCA has received pledges or gifts of nearly $90,000 and full support from USCCA's Board. If you would like to help in this effort, please contact Gerald Doyle, Interim Chief Administrative Officer, at Director@USCatholicChina.org .

Fr. Francis Li ( 李东平神父), much beloved pastor of Chicago’s Saint Mother Theresa of Calcutta Parish, will chair the USCCA’s Conference Committee and also head up efforts as the event’s local host. Fr. Li was born in Shanxi Province and first came to Chicago for theological studies. He returned to China and was ordained a priest 1999. After returning to Chicago for further studies, he was asked by Cardinal Francis George, then-Archbishop of Chicago, to take on local pastoral duties, as well. After serving in three diverse parishes and earning an Advanced Pastoral Leadership Certificate through Kellogg School of Management in 2013, and the Doctor of Ministry Degree from Catholic Theological Union, Chicago, in 2016, he was appointed to St. Therese in Chicago’s Chinatown, now part of St. Mother Theresa of Calcutta Parish. As chair of the Conference Committee, Fr. Li will work with USCCA Board members, and with local groups based in Chicago. Together they will make the USCCA’s 2024 conference a visionary gathering that brings together Christians on both sides of the Pacific in their commitment to the Gospel. The 2024 Conference will be held on August 2-4, 2024; location details forthcoming. As in previous years, the USCCA’s conference will include: · keynote speakers from the U.S. and around the world · representatives of organizations that serve the Church in China · panels with opportunities for learning and discussion · workshops for networking and building capacity · the Ricci Award Banquet · local performers · and the opportunity to celebrate and worship together! It is the people that make the event. We look forward to seeing you there! Last updated: 9 October 2023

Date to be determined. More information to come. Learn more here >

On Tuesday, April 4, 2023, the Most Reverend Joseph SHEN Bin was installed as Bishop of Shanghai. Bishop Shen had been serving as the bishop of the Diocese of Haimen, located in Nantong, Jiangsu Province, not far from Shanghai. He was ordained bishop on April 21, 2010, at which time he both received the mandate of the Holy See and was recognized by the government. His predecessor as Bishop of Haimen, Msgr. Matthew YU Chengcai, had not been recognized by Rome. In 2013, Bishop Shen was later elected vice-president of the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association, which works closely with the United Front of the Chinese Communist Party. Bishop Shen currently serves as the president of the government-sanctioned Chinese Catholic Bishops’ Conference. While all bishops in China are currently in communion with Rome, this bishops’ conference is not recognized by Rome. That is because it does not include those bishops who have not registered with the government but who are also in full communion with Rome. These unregistered bishops are often referred to as China’s “underground bishops.” Bishop Shen’s appointment letter as Bishop of Shanghai came from the council of bishops that he himself heads. The Vatican states this move was unilateral in that it only involved the Chinese side. On April 5, Matteo Bruni, director of the Holy See Press Office, stated, “The Holy See had been informed a few days ago of the decision of the Chinese authorities” to transfer Bishop Shen from Haimen to Shanghai, and it only “learned from the media of the installation this morning.” In the days leading up to the installation, priests, sisters, and lay Catholics in the Shanghai Diocese were consulted in an effort to gain their support. The Diocese of Shanghai is an important center of the Catholic Church in China. Its roots as a center of faith go back to the Ming Dynasty, when one of its most prominent sons, Xu Guangqi (a protégé of the Jesuit missionary Matteo Ricci) served in various high positions in the imperial court. t is home to a major seminary and one of China’s most famous pilgrimage sites at Sheshan. In 2000, the Vatican recognized bishop of Shanghai, Ignatius KUNG Pin-Mei, died while in exile in the United States, and the Vatican recognized Bishop Joseph FAN Zhongliang, his coadjutor, to be his successor. Bishop Fan had already had numerous unfriendly encounters with local authorities. They recognized Msgr. Aloysius JIN Luxian as bishop instead. Bishop Jin had been ordained without Vatican approval in 1985 and installed as the state-approved Bishop of Shanghai in 1988. In 2005 the Vatican finally recognized Bishop Jin as the administrator bishop of Shanghai on behalf of Bishop Fan. Over the years, all sides worked for reconciliation, and in 2005 the Chinese Patriotic Association and the Vatican agreed to the consecration of Giuseppe XING Wenzhi as auxiliary bishop to succeed both Bishop Fan and Bishop Jin. In 2010 Bishop Xing excused himself from this role for personal reasons, and Bishop Thaddeus MA Daqin was chosen instead to be consecrated as the new successor to Bishop Fan and Bishop Jin. Unfortunately, as is well known, in 2012 at his own consecration as auxiliary bishop in the Cathedral of St. Ignatius in Shanghai, Bishop Ma publicly repudiated his membership in the Patriotic Association. He was placed under house arrest, and the diocese was placed under administrative lock down. In 2013, Bishop Jin passed away, as did Bishop Fan, who had Alzheimer’s disease, the following year. As a result, until this appointment, the Diocese of Shanghai has been operating under a council of priests. The Diocese remains divided, and many are looking to Rome for guidance. While the provisions of the entente between Rome and Beijing on the appointment of bishops is unclear, in this case, Bishop Shen was not ordained without Vatican approval. His ordination was approved by Rome in 2010. It is his installation in a new diocese that was not approved. Article 377.5 of the Church’s Code of Canon Law states that “no rights and privileges of election, nomination, presentation, or designation of bishops are granted to civil authorities.” In this case, it was not civil authorities that authorized the installation of Bishop Shen, but the irregular Chinese Catholic Bishops’ Conference. Nonetheless, the Vatican has been clear that such appointments violate the spirit of the Beijing-Vatican accord. Bishop Shen will serve as pastor under difficult and painful circumstances. He states that one of his most important missions is to bring reconciliation to a divided church. You can go here to read an interview with Msgr. Shen conducted by Vatican Insider in 2017. In that interview, one theme he stressed is that in China nobody wants a Church separated from the Pope. During this Easter triduum, when we enter into the death and the resurrection of Jesus, let us keep the Church of Shanghai, its sisters, its priests, its bishop, and all its faithful in our prayers.

Yesterday, August 8, was the Feast of Saint Dominic, founder of the Dominican Order. The order has a long and venerable history of missionary work in China. Father Gaspar de la Cruz, the first Dominican missioned to China, arrived in Guangdong Province in 1555. After 1633, Dominicans started mission work in the eastern provinces of Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Fujian. To this day, Chinese Catholic communities in these regions, and others, look back with profound gratitude to the Dominicans, who made great sacrifices to bring the faith. As it turns out, the first Chinese priest, Gregorius LUO Wenzao, was a Dominican. In 1685, he went on to be ordained the first native Chinese bishop. By the middle of the twentieth century, the Dominicans had 98 missionaries working in China. They ran 319 schools, 14 hospitals and clinics, 10 orphanages, and a home for the aged. Dear Lord Jesus, continue to watch over the sons and daughters of Saint Dominic. Make their preaching and ministry fruitful! Amen.

During these difficult times, the USCCA has managed to stay ahead of expenses, all while bringing on new staff to further its Campus Engagement Initiative. The 2022 Annual Appeal will be the key to continuing our programming and promoting our mission. In an era when tensions within the U.S. and across the Pacific drive people apart, the USCCA’s promotion of dialogue, welcome, and mutual respect is more relevant than ever. The upcoming Annual Appeal will run through the month of September. Currently, the USCCA is seeking $30,000 in pre-campaign pledges to be matched by contributions that come in during the campaign itself. If you would like to help in this effort, please contact Fr. Michael Director@USCatholicChina.org .

The US-China Catholic Association (USCCA) is a bridge between scholars, religious, Chinese Catholics, and interested laity in the United States. Recently, a former Lay Maryknoll Missionary and now full-time USCCA staff member, Kathleen O'Brien, had the opportunity to meet a current Maryknoll priest, Fr. Bob Carleton. Fr. Carleton has been a dedicated supporter of the Catholic Church in China for many years. He is a longtime USCCA Board member and previously served as Treasurer. At the Maryknoll residence in Los Altos, California, Fr. Carleton and Kathleen had the chance to share their love of the Maryknoll mission and their experiences of their time in China. Kathleen noted that meeting with Fr. Carleton reminded her of her love for the USCCA mission. She states, "The history, stories, and dedication of the Maryknollers and other religious orders in China is the legacy that the USSCA mission endeavors to carry forward day."

In July, the U.S.-China Catholic Association (USCCA) held a three day in-person workshop at the Berkeley offices for partners interested in the USCCA's new initiative of welcome and outreach to Chinese international students in the Bay Area. The workshop offered participants a time to reflect on the Church's mission and to better understand the worldview of this generation of Chinese students on our college campuses. Each day, participants had the opportunity to listen to a wide range of speakers and discuss topics relevant to this new ministry. Topics included discussing the Church document Joy of the Gospel and listening to a Chinese doctoral student at Duke University speak about “The Worldview of a Post-90's Generation in China." Participants included current and present students, the chaplain at UC Berkeley’s Newman Hall, a pastor of a Chinese Catholic community, local Chinese Catholics, and a few of our Protestant partners as well. Thanks to this diverse group of participants and the thought-provoking presentations, lively discussions and a real desire to serve Chinese international students marked each day of the workshop. One participant noted that, "The workshop was way above my expectation. Thank you for your hard work and all the speakers' presentations. I am so thankful for the USCCA's ministry. I am thankful for you bringing the Catholic faith to the young Chinese generation." We hope the same energy from the workshop will carry over into the fall semester, when we finally get to meet the many Chinese international students who come to our shores for an education! Pilot programs will launch at UC Berkeley, the University of San Francisco, Santa Clara University, and San Jose State. Would you like to be involved in the Bay Area pilots and meet students from China? Would you like to discuss expanding the Campus Engagement Imitative to your area? Contact Fr. Michael ( Director@USCatholicChina.org ) or Kathleen O'Brien ( CEI.Coord1@uscatholicchina.org ).

Paul GE Tingzhu was born in 1839 at Xiaotun, a village that today is located in Henan Province. He was a poor farmer. At the same time, he was the leading Catholic layman in his village. In 1900, a loosely organized, quasi-religious, quasi-nationalistic faction known as the “Boxers” in English unleashed a wave of attacks against foreigners and Western culture in China. They viewed Christianity as a Western religion and so saw Chinese Christians as traitors. Chinese Christians were in no way betraying their country. The God to whom they owed allegiance was universal, not Western. However, the Boxers were not open to theological fine points, and instead unleashed their fury and intolerance on their fellow Chinese who had become Christian, as well. On August 9, 1900, Paul was setting out to begin his routine farm work when he was confronted by a band of Boxers. Having been told that the sixty-one-year-old farmer was a Catholic, the Boxers demanded from him a denial of his faith. Paul answered, ‘Absolutely not! No, no! It does not matter if you kill my body; I want to save my soul.’ The Boxers tied him to a tree and brutally tortured him to death. Throughout, GE Tingzhu remained steadfast, reaffirming his faith and trust in God, and continually invoked the holy names of Jesus and Mary. While the Boxers saw GE as betraying their country, that was not his own perspective. Rather, Paul GE Tingzhu was affirming his faith in God, and in Jesus as the one who most truly reveals who God is. Saint Paul GE Tingzhu, pray for us!

Over the weekend of July 23-24, Fr. Michael Agliardo, executive director of the U.S.-China Catholic Association (USCCA), and Br. David, a seminarian from northern China working with the USCCA, traveled to Irvine (in Orange County, California), for a mission appeal. They spoke at eight Masses at St. Thomas More Parish about the witness to the faith of Chinese Catholics and the ways the USCCA could collaborate as brothers and sisters in Christ. The community, their pastor, Fr. Eugene Lee, and their pastoral vicar, Fr. Kiet Ta, were all extremely gracious in hosting the USCCA. The diocesan mission officers, Greg Waldenbach and Ruth Guzman, also arranged for a luncheon that Friday. It was attended by representatives of the two main Chinese Catholic communities in the Diocese of Orange, including Deacon Leonard Sun and Deacon Louis Liu. Bishop Kevin Vann took time to join the gathering. Bishop Vann has a keen appreciation of the challenge and opportunities for evangelization in society today. That Monday, Bishop Vann invited Fr. Michael and Br. David to his office to discuss a book project that he is supporting that draws connections between the Bible and the Dao De Jing. The latter is a key text in both philosophical and religious Daoism (Taoism). Often the Dao De Jing and the Bible are viewed as quite different from one another, but on a deeper level, works of profound wisdom meet in ways that are both common sensical and surprising. In addition, Bishop Vann and Fr. Michael discussed ways that the Diocese of Orange might participate in and support USCCA’s Campus Engagement Initiative . Many newcomers from China reside in Orange and study at U.C. Irvine and other area schools. Bishop Vann understands the importance of outreach and welcome to the Chinese in his diocese.