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On November 30, 2020, Prof. Diane Obenchain shared her reflections on Confucian and Christian Dialogue. ​ Family is at the core of all spheres of Chinese civilization: government, economic organization, worship of every kind, morality and philosophical/scientific exploration and pragmatic implementation of the physical world. What has been called “Confucianism” in the West builds upon family relations, but also goes beyond the family to provide rectification/correction of certain tendencies in family relations. Family is also at the core of Western civilizations as well: Greek, Roman, Celtic, Germanic, and more. Christian faith builds upon family relations, but also goes beyond the family to provide rectification/correction of certain family tendencies. During our time together, we will examine Chinese family relations, Confucian moral transformation of family relations, and Christian moral transformation of family relations. We will seek to discover what is shared in common and what is different in Confucian and Christian moral transformation of the family. We will close with a discussion of how we can work together in areas of shared common interest. About Dr. DIANE OBENCHAIN Dr. Obenchain was one of the first Western professors to teach at Peking University, beginning in 1988, at the time when China was reopening to the West. Now she spearheads Fuller Seminary’s engagement with Nanjing Seminary, China’s one national Protestant seminary. For more information on Dr. Obenchain click here. additional resources Christ and the Dominions of Civilization by Max L. Stackhouse (Author, Editor), Diane B. Obenchain (Editor) Despite the predicted secularization of the world, religion continues to grow as a global influence, one that has the power to unify or to divide. Yet contemporary discussions of globalization rarely take religion into account. The contributors to this third volume in the "God and Globalization" series investigate what happens when we account for religion as a force that shapes our increasingly common life on earth. They look at the effect of religion within and across national borders and cultures: how the world is brought together by common ethical perspectives, and pushed apart by the different ultimate concerns of each religion. "God and Globalization: Christ and the Dominions of Civilization" offers fresh perspectives and interpretations on religion and the politics, economics, and culture of globalization. Ways of Confucius and of Christ by Lou Tseng-Tsiang (Dom Pierre-Celestin) 2014 [1948; 1946] When a Chinese diplomat abandons his career to enter a religious community it is commonly felt that he has made a break with his past. When the diplomat is a Chinese Foreign Minister and the community a Benedictine abbey in Belgium, the contrast is all the more startling. In this meeting of East and West, Dom Lou shows us with extraordinary insight that his life preserves an essential unity. Just as the natural order precedes and leads up to the supernatural, so he has been led from the ways of Confucius to those of Christianity and finally to the Catholic Church and monastic life. This event was part of a collaborative public lecture series, “Exploring Christianity and Culture in China: Today and Yesterday,” cohosted by ChinaSource, the US-China Catholic Association, and the China Academic Consortium.

On April 30, 2020, Prof. Andrew Kaiser shared his reflections on the life of Timothy Richard. Richard was a unique and inspired Baptist missionary who went to China from Wales in the late nineteenth century. Sometimes hailed as the Protestant Matteo Ricci, he came to China as a young man and immersed himself in its social life, its hopes and its struggles. ​ A video of Professor Kaiser's lecture and additional resources on the life of Timothy Richard are provided below. About Timothy Richard As a young man, Timothy Richard set out from his native rural Wales to bring the Gospel to a distant land. He joined the English Baptist Missionary Society and arrived in China in 1870. Over the next 45 years, Richards fell in love with his new land and new people. While shared the Gospel that had changed his own life, he touched and inspired many others. One of his early responsibilities was to organize relief during the devastating North China Famine (1876–1878). He later directed the Christian Literature Society for China, which introduced some of China’s best and brightest scholars to perspectives that aided China’s development as it engaged with modernity. During the aftermath of the Boxer Rebellion, Richards got local missionary societies to agree to set aside exorbitant compensation claims and instead accept funding from local governments to establish the Imperial University of Shanxi, one of the first modern universities in China. A young idealist who persevered into old age, Richard changed others and was changed in turn. Yet the core commitment of his life never wavered: The Gospel of Jesus Christ. What can we learn today from this missionary and friend of China - “one of the greatest missionaries whom any branch of the Church, whether Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox, or Protestant, has sent to China” (Kenneth Scott Latourette, noted scholar of Christianity in China at Yale University). About Andrew Kaiser Our speaker, Andrew Kaiser, is author of Encountering China: The Evolution of Timothy Richard's Missionary Thought (1870 – 1891) (Pickwick Publications, 2019). He received his Ph.D. from the University of Edinburgh. his recent publications also include The Rushing on of the Purposes of God: Christian Missionaries in Shanxi since 1876 (Pickwick Publications, 2016). Kaiser is a frequently requested international public speaker. He and his family have been living in Shanxi province since 1997, serving the community through professional work and public benefits. the presentation additional resources: Books on Timothy Richard Encountering China: The Evolution of Timothy Richard’s Missionary Thought (1870–1891) (Pickwick Publications 2019) by Andrew T. Kaiser The great historian of Christian missions, Kenneth Scott Latourette, writes that Timothy Richard (1845-1919) was widely regarded as "one of the greatest missionaries whom any branch of the Church, whether Roman Catholic, Russian Orthodox, or Protestant, has sent to China." In this volume, Andrew Kaiser provides a welcome exploration of the life and ministry of this remarkable Welsh Baptist missionary to China As the first critical examination of Richard's missionary identity, this groundbreaking historical study traces the narrative of Richard's early life in Wales and his formative first two decades of service in China. Richard's adaptations to the common evangelistic techniques of his day, his interest in learning from grassroots Chinese sectarian religions, his integration of evangelism and famine relief during the North China Famine (1876-79), his strategic decision to evangelize Chinese elites, and his complicated relationships with Hudson Taylor and other China missionaries are all explored through the writings and personal letters of Richard and his contemporaries. The resulting portrait represents a significant revision to existing interpretations of this influential China missionary, emphasizing his deep empathy for the people of China and his abiding evangelical identity. Readable and relevant, Encountering China provides a new generation with an introduction to this lost legend of China mission. Timothy Richard’s Vision: Education and Reform in China, 1880–1910 (Pickwick Publications 2014) by Eunice Johnson Pioneer missionary Timothy Richard served forty-five years in China, where he became a household name among educated Chinese. In 1880, he first articulated a vision for the modern Chinese university as the basis for overall progress in China. By the mid-1890s, many Chinese scholars and officials began to embrace his expanding vision and approach to reform. In the devastating aftermath of the 1900 Boxer Uprising, he worked with Protestant missionaries and Chinese authorities to have reparations dedicated to the founding of the Imperial University of Shansi (now Shanxi University). Overseen by Richard and the provincial governor as joint chancellors, it included both Chinese and Western Learning Departments. Eunice Johnson’s touching account reveals the fervor of Richard’s dedication to China and the Gospel, and it helps lay bare the contribution he made to many aspects of China’s modernization. additional resources: Books by Timothy Richard The New Testament of Higher Buddhism (T. & T. Clark, Edinburgh 1910) Timothy Richard was an ambassador between cultures. Not only did he bring his own Christian faith to China. He also helped make the links between Christian and Chinese wisdom available to people in the West. In this volume, Richard argues, in a sense, that the current encounter between Christianity and the East is not the first, but that in the century after Christ, the encounter between Christians and Buddhists had already taken place in Central Asia. The dialogue had begun long before Europeans showed up on the shores of China. ​ You can access this book of Richard’s reflections in PDF form here. This event was part of a collaborative public lecture series, “Exploring Christianity and Culture in China: Today and Yesterday,” cohosted by ChinaSource, the US-China Catholic Association, and the China Academic Consortium.

About the Event: In Hong Kong beginning in March 2019, yet another movement gained momentum, this time to protest a bill that would allow extradition of suspects to jurisdictions with which Hong Kong did not have an extradition agreement, including Mainland China. The U.S. media portrayed this unrest from an angle that lionized young people on a tiny island enclave struggling against an overbearing Goliath. However, on the ground, the perspectives were more nuanced. Within the Christian community, opinions varied regarding how far to take the protests, and how much support churches should lend. The divisions left a lasting mark. Sociologist Lida Nedilsky, who has followed the involvement of Catholics and Protestants in Hong Kong’s civic life of throughout her career, lends insightful perspective regarding the contributions of Hong Kong Christians to the territory’s civic culture, the impact this involvement has had on the churches, and the unfolding implications of the current crackdown pursued by Beijing. About Lida Nedilsky: Lida V. Nedilsky is a Professor of Sociology at North Park University. Her research interests focus on China, particularly how religious people in Hong Kong get engaged in political issues. Dr. Nedilsky is the author of Converts to Civil Society: Christianity and Political Culture in Contemporary Hong Kong (Baylor 2014) and contributor to Shun-hing Chan and Jonathan W. Johnson's Citizens of Two Kingdoms: Civil Society and Christian Religion in Greater China (Brill 2021). She also serves on the Academic Advisory Board of Tripod, a publication of the Holy Spirit Study Centre of the Diocese of Hong Kong. The Presentation: Further Resources: Converts to Civil Society: Christianity and Political Culture in Contemporary Hong Kong by Lida V. Nedilsky, Ph.D. Lida V. Nedilsky captures the public ramifications of a personal, Christian faith at the time of Hong Kong’s pivotal political turmoil. From 1997 to 2008, in the much-anticipated reintegration of Hong Kong into Chinese sovereignty, she conducted detailed interviews of more than fifty Hong Kong people and then followed their daily lives, documenting their involvement at the intersection of church and state.

The Christian theological conversation spans two millennia. Recently, however, more scholars have begun to recognize that, in the words of Andrew Walls, “the theological agenda is culturally induced; and the cross-cultural diffusion of Christian faith invariably makes creative theological activity a necessity.” What does that look like in practice? Doesn’t that lead to syncretism? Can’t we just teach a pure gospel? On June 10, 2021, Dr. Jesse Ciccotti spoke on theologizing in Chinese contexts by first discussing theology as an “idiomatic activity,” that is, an activity by which Christian thought is expressed in ways that are natural to a cultural native. He then highlighted key Chinese cultural material in Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism and illustrated these with examples. He closed with a discussion of the relevance of cross-cultural theological creativity, as well as its risks. About Dr. Jesse Ciccotti Jesse Ciccotti holds a PhD in Comparative Philosophy from Hong Kong Baptist University and an MA in Chinese Philosophy from Wuhan University. He and his family lived in China for 12 years. Dr. Ciccotti’s primary research area in philosophy has led him down several interdisciplinary paths, one of which is historical studies of Christianity in China, regarding the transmission of the Christian message across cultural boundaries, examining the lives and works of Chinese Christians and foreign missionaries to China. His work for the Center for Global Christianity and Mission focuses on the recently opened online archive of Chinese Christian posters. the presentation additional resources Dr. Ciccotti has also provided the content of his lecture for download and a reading list for those who want to learn more. Christian Theology in a Chinese Idiom Lecture Christian Theology in a Chinese Idiom Reading List This event was part of a collaborative public lecture series, “Exploring Christianity and Culture in China: Today and Yesterday,” cohosted by ChinaSource, the US-China Catholic Association, and the China Academic Consortium.

A special feature has been added to the upcoming 28th International Conference of the US-China Catholic Association, which will be held August 6-8, 2021, at Santa Clara University. The USCCA has planned for two day-trips after the conference ends for participants to further enjoy their time in California. The two options are "A Day in San Francisco" and/or "A Day in Monterey and Carmel-by-the -Sea." To learn more about these day trips, or to learn about ways you can extend and enjoy your time in the Golden State after the conference, please click here.

USCCA is proud to announce the addition of Myron Youngman, Founder and Director of the Kaifa Group, as a keynote speaker for the upcoming 28th International Conference of the US-China Catholic Association, themed "China, Christianity, and the Dialogue of Civilizations." He will speak about the circumstances of the Protestant churches in China and the challenges they face today. General conference information > All keynote speakers >

USCCA is pleased to announce the addition of Kathleen O'Brien to the team. Kathleen will serve as Bay Area Coordinator for the Campus Engagement Initiative, effective Spring 2022. Kathleen's commitment to her Catholic faith and passion for Chinese culture were nurtured during her time at Bradley University, where she was a religious studies and philosophy major. Upon graduation, she dedicated three years as a Maryknoll lay missionary, teaching English in China at Jilin Agricultural College and Jilin Catholic Seminary. Kathleen’s years in China were transformative. They led her to Chicago where she is currently in her last year of study for a master’s in systematic theology at Catholic Theological Union. She is excited to be a part of carrying on the imperative mission of the USCCA by helping to launch the Campus Engagement Initiative.

This October, members of the latest USCCA book circle will meet for their first discussion of The Souls of China: The Return of Religion after Mao by Ian Johnson. The Souls of China tells the story of one of the world’s great spiritual revivals. Following a century of violent, anti-religious campaigns, China is now filled with new temples, churches and mosques–as well as cults, sects and politicians trying to harness religion for their own ends. Driving this explosion of faith is uncertainty–over how to live an ethical life in a country that discarded traditional morality a century ago and is still searching for new guideposts. Participation in the book circle is open to all USCCA Affiliates. Learn more about becoming an Affiliate here > Ian Johnson is a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer, researcher, and senior fellow for China studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. He is currently writing a book about how history is used to both legitimize and challenge Communist Party rule in China. He closely follows China’s efforts to bolster its soft power around the globe. Johnson was also a keynote presenter at the USCCA’s latest international conference, “China, Christianity, and the Dialogue of Civilizations.” You may view keynote address here> To find out more about joining this book circle, contact Mr. Xin Chen at Admin@USCatholicChina.org.

Our partners in Beijing are moderately optimistic that by the latter part of the summer, we will be able to host one or more China study tours. These study tours offer a unique opportunity to better understand Chinese society and the circumstances of the Christians who live there. At present, we are assessing interest from possible participants in three possible study tours: “From the Heartland to the Borderlands: Faith in Chinese Context”; “USCCA Friends Across the Pacific: Solidarity in Challenging Times”; and “China Ever Ancient, Ever Young: The Human Quest.” If you believe you would be interested in joining us, we invite you to view the above tour options. Then either fill in the corresponding interest form or you can drop an email to Bernard Ciernick, the USCCA’s Study Tour Coordinator (USCCA.StudyTours@gmail.com) with any questions.

On September 12, 2021, the Maryknoll Sisters celebrated a century of service in China. The original Maryknoll mission to China set sail on September 24, 1921. It consisted of six Sisters and two priests. Today, there are eight Maryknoll Sisters doing missionary work in Hong Kong and five Maryknoll priests in the country. It was through the collaborative efforts of Maryknoll, the Jesuits, other religious orders, and concerned U.S. bishops that China Association was established in 1989. At the time, it was known as the United States Catholic China Bureau and based at Seton Hall University. Maryknoll Sister Janet Carroll served as its founding executive director. We offer the Maryknoll Sisters our congratulations and gratitude for all they have done for our organization and for the people and the Church in China. Read more from the Maryknoll Sister here > Read more from the Catholic News Service here >

We are hopeful as we announce the launch of our 2021 Annual Appeal, happening this weekend. Our goal is to raise 30K in 30 days. We are especially fortunate this year because each dollar that our donors give will be matched up by generous benefactors up to an additional $30,000. Click here to meet the challenge, double your impact, and help us reach our goal of $60,000 in support of our mission. The past 18 months have been challenging for everyone, but the USCCA has not been sidelined. We enjoyed a successful international conference: participants were able to meet in person and online; keynote speakers joined us from around the world; academic and pastoral panels gave all who assembled a deeper appreciation of the challenge of the Gospel. The USCCA also published an American edition of Lu Nan’s monumental On the Road, his photographic journey which brilliantly captures love and faith in the everyday life of the China’s rural Catholics. The China Association co-hosted three online talks discussing Christian Theology in China, Current Views on Hong Kong, and Confucian and Christian Dialogue. We held online sessions advancing the USCCA’s Campus Engagement Initiative. Now we are excited to announce an addition to the team: Kathleen O'Brien (MA in Theology, Catholic Theological Union, pictured left), who will join the USCCA full-time in June 2022. ​ We were able to continue our book circles, where participants read timely and topical works related to faith, China, and the modern era. Amongst the circle members are people from the US and greater China, sisters and priests, professors, and committed lay people. We pray that you will stand by us. There is no gift too small. Your contribution will keep us moving forward! Learn more about the Annual Appeal and Donate >

During the last weekend of August 2021, Fr. Michael Agliardo, Director of the USCCA, spoke at all 11 Masses at Christ Cathedral in the Diocese of Orange. The Cathedral parish is a vibrant community which hosts four Vietnamese Masses, three English, three Spanish, and one Chinese. The Vietnamese priests very graciously assisted Fr. Michael in getting his message out, since he does not speak Vietnamese. Fr. Michael enlightened Mass participants to the challenges Catholics face in China as society changes and modernizes, and he promoted the mission of the USCCA. He also shared images from Lu Nan’s photo essay on China’s Catholics, On the Road, encouraging the faithful in each of the groups he spoke with to reflect on the place of Christian faith in their history. Who passed the faith on to them? Spanish speakers from Latin America, the Vietnamese faithful, and those other Americans who attended the English Mass all drew inspiration from the experience of their fellow Catholics in China.