By Chiaretto Yan Kin-sheung, a Catholic Chinese theologian and author of My Chinese Dream As reported in a Catholic News Agency article on January 12, 2024, Pope Francis met with representatives of DIALOP (Transversal Dialogue Project), an association of European leftist politicians, academics, and members of the Focolare Movement, of which I am a member. One of DIALOP's main goals is to bridge Catholic social teaching and Marxist theory. DIALOP promotes and supports dialogue between people of goodwill and secular and religious backgrounds, particularly between Socialists/Marxists and Christians -- in cooperation with universities and other formal or informal educational institutions, DIALOP. In his audience with members of DIALOP, the Pope emphasized the need for SOLIDARITY, especially toward socially disadvantaged people, through an integral approach, with radical changes of perspective in the sharing of challenges and resources among individuals and peoples. Politics at the service of humanity cannot be dictated only by finance and market mechanisms. He called for DIALOGUE, discussion, and listening, encouraging their commitment to solidarity and dialogue. At the end of the audience, Pope Francis encouraged DIALOP to launch a transversal dialogue capable of involving the broadest strata of society and, above all, the youth. Right after this private audience with the Pope, DIALOP held a three-day conference at the Sophia University Institute, the Institute at which I wrote my dissertation, the basis of my book My Chinese Dream . The conference was a moment of rich confrontation, open and full of very stimulating perspectives. The DIALOP Conference points to what I mentioned in My Chinese Dream , Pope Francis’ commitment to the culture of dialogue and encounter with China. I think involving a broad strata of society in such dialogues would greatly benefit from having exchanges and open dialogue with the people of China. Can we all agree with Pope Francis? “ Don’t back off, don’t give up, and don’t stop dreaming of a better world. For it is in imagination, the ability to dream, that intelligence, intuition, experience, and historical memory come together to make us creative, take chances, and run risks. ” GREETING OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS TO MEMBERS OF THE DIALOP (TRANSVERSAL DIALOGUE PROJECT) ASSOCIATION  Room adjacent to the Paul VI HallWednesday, 10 January 2024 [note: Chiaretto Yan Kin-sheung is a good friend of Tom McGuire, USCCA Board member; we are pleased to feature his writing on the USCCA blog] ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pope Francis calls for greater dialogue and cooperation between Christians, Marxists By Matthew Santucci Rome Newsroom, Catholic News Agency, Jan 12, 2024 / 10:30 am Pope Francis this week called for cooperation between Christians and Marxists as a way to achieve greater “dialogue” and help in the search for the “common good.”  “I thank you for your commitment to dialogue,” the pope said in a private meeting on Jan. 10 with 15 representatives of DIALOP (Transversal Dialogue Project), an association of European leftist politicians and academics that seeks to bridge Catholic social teaching and Marxist theory. “There is always a great need for dialogue, so do not be afraid,” the pope said during the event at the Paul VI Audience Hall. Highlighting the nexus between social, economic, and ecological issues, the pope said that “politics that is truly at the service of humanity cannot let itself be dictated to by finance and market mechanisms.” The pope buttressed his call for a more inclusive participation in economic and political decision-making by suggesting that “instead of rigid approaches that divide, let us cultivate, with open hearts, discussion and listening.” “And not exclude anyone at the political, social, or religious level, so that the contribution of each can, in its concrete distinctiveness, receive a positive reception in the processes of change to which our future is linked,” the Holy Father added. “Don’t back off, don’t give up, and don’t stop dreaming of a better world. For it is in imagination, the ability to dream, that intelligence, intuition, experience, and historical memory come together to make us be creative, take chances, and run risks.”  The pope argued that “solidarity is not only a moral virtue but also a requirement of justice, which calls for correcting the distortions and purifying the intentions of unjust systems, not least through radical changes of perspective in the sharing of challenges and resources among individuals and among peoples.” The pope closed his speech with a reflection on the importance of the rule of law, saying: “It is only in honesty and integrity that healthy relationships can be established and that we can cooperate confidently and effectively in building a better future.” Pope Francis has made critique of the market economy one of the defining themes of his pontificate. In his 2013 apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium , the pope wrote: “We can no longer trust in the unseen forces and the invisible hand of the market.” “Growth in justice requires more than economic growth, while presupposing such growth: It requires decisions, programs, mechanisms, and processes specifically geared to a better distribution of income, the creation of sources of employment, and an integral promotion of the poor, which goes beyond a simple welfare mentality.” Vatican News noted  that the Jan. 10 audience was “not a short greeting but an interview that lasted with spontaneous questions and answers for about 40 minutes.” DIALOP was founded in 2014 after a meeting between Pope Francis, the Vienese leftist politician Walter Baier, former Greek prime minister Alexis Tsipras, and Franz Kronreif of the Focolare Movement, a spiritual and social renewal founded in 1943 — and approved by the Church in 1962 — to promote universal brotherhood and to foster dialogue between different religious groups.  Both Baier and Kronreif were present at the Jan. 10 meeting. In an interview  with Vatican News following the audience, Baier noted that during the speech the pope highlighted “the need for solidarity” especially “toward socially disadvantaged people.”  “He called for a dialogue that goes beyond historical patterns, a dialogue that deals primarily with the excluded and vulnerable and that respects the principles of the rule of law.” Kronreif said to Vatican News  that following the pope’s call from the meeting, the association is “preparing a two-year project that should start in the autumn on peace, on how to build peace ... a project to involve especially the young generations in how to make peace grow from below, so that everyone feels called upon to create peace around themselves, to help the victims of war to realize what the roots of war may be and what are the tools to prevent it.” Matthew Santucci is a CNA Rome correspondent based in EWTN's Vatican bureau. He grew up in Connecticut and has been living in Rome since 2020. He has a B.A. in History from Fordham and an M.A. in International Relations from Luiss Guido Carli.

On the eve of Chinese New Year, the Pope Expresses His Closeness to China By Tom McGuire, Board Member Pope Francis greeted all who celebrate the Spring Festival that begins Saturday, February 10, 2024. His greeting expressed a feeling of closeness in his heart for all in China, Southeast Asia, and around the world who observe the celebration as “an opportunity to experience relationships of affection and gestures of attention, which contribute to creating a supportive and fraternal society, where every person is recognized and welcomed in their inalienable dignity.” In this Lunar New Year of 2024, let us pray:  May we discover the deepest desires in our hearts. May we make choices that support good health. May we recognize the inalienable dignity of each person. May we discover the Joy of the Gospel May we be witnesses to the Good News of Jesus Christ. ------------------ Churches in China Care for the Needy Before Spring Festival in the China Christian Daily The Spring Festival, also known as the Lunar New Year or the Chinese New Year, is a holiday in China that kicks off what is expected to be the busiest annual celebration in history; there may be a record 9 billion domestic trips made during the 40-day travel period, along with winter weather that will not make travel difficult. (Photo from Catholic News Agency) This article by Serena Tse, Churches in China Care for the Needy Before Spring Festival in the China Christian Daily , February 6, 2024, reports the way Christians are giving witness to a fraternal society by including people in need in their preparations for the Spring Festival celebration. As the 2024 Chinese New Year approaches, churches in Hubei, Fujian, and Shaanxi provinces carry out caring visitation activities. According to the Hunan Provincial TSPM, on January 31, St. James Church in Yichang, along with three local St James, along with three local communities, provided 120 needy families with essential foods in Yichang City, Hunan Province, on January 31, 2024, communities provided 120 needy families with essential foods. For more than 20 years, St. James Church and the local communities have co-organized the "Three Supports and One Assistance" event (supporting students, the elderly, and the disabled; assisting the underprivileged), with the assistance aim increasing from one to three communities recently, a visiting team of pastoral staff, and co-workers at distinct meeting points, and group leaders from Shashi Church in Jingzhou paid visits and sent warmth to the elderly and sick," said Jingzhou Municipal CC. A church in Jianli City (a county-level city affiliated with Zhangzhou City City) visited aged co-workers, the elderly, those who live alone, and those in need. Recently, a visiting team of pastoral staff and co-workers at distinct meeting points and group leaders from Shashi Church in Jingzhou paid visits and "sent warmth to the elderly and the sick," said Jingzhou Municipal CC. Achurch in Jianli City (a county-level city affiliated with Jingzhou City) embarked on a visit to aged co-workers, the elderly, those who live alone, and those in need. On January 31, leaders of the Shaanxi Christian community extended a visit to the retired leaders of the provincial TSPM with money. Furthermore, the visiting team provided financial support to 120 pastoral staff members from grassroots churches who were experiencing living challenges, with encouragement for their Service to the church. The charity organization of Wenfeng Church in Dongshan County, Zhangzhou City, Fujian Province, distributed food to the impoverished and disabled on February 3, reported the church. ~ Translated by Poppy Chan

Board Member Fr Doug Mullin, O.S.B. Elected  Abbot Doug of St John’s Abbey  My wife Florence and I watched, online, The Blessing of Abbot Doug Mullin, our friend and member of the U.S. China Catholic Association Board. We received a letter from Fr Geoffrey Fecht, OSB acknowledging our online presence. We share a section of his letter that describes the significance of the blessing and the role of the Abbot in his monastic community at St John's. Abbot Doug has been a faithful member of the U.S. China Catholic Association Board since 2013. During my time as Chair of the Board and continuing to the present, he has contributed invaluable wisdom and leadership in the mission work of building bridges of friendship and dialogue with the people of China in partnership with our Chinese Catholic sisters and brothers.  We know he will continue to carry in his heart love for the people of China. We are grateful for Abbot Doug's service on the Board and pray he will be the faithful Face of Christ in his monastic community.     Shalom, Tom McGuire Member of the USCCA Board ----------------------------------------------- Dear Tom and Florence,   The following is taken from A Monk’s Chronicle – 27 January 2024, by Fr. Eric Hollas, OSB   The Blessing of an Abbot is an important occasion in the life of any monastery. So, Abbot Douglas's blessing on January 28th marked a milestone for us at Saint John’s Abbey.   It was an event laced with all sorts of symbolism, intended to convey a great deal of meaning. The presence of our bishop, Patrick Neary, CSC, was only the most obvious of them. As the bishop of St. Cloud, Bishop Patrick conferred the blessing, and that action recognizes the relationship between the monastery and the diocese in which we live. Saint Benedict, in his Rule, made clear that a monastery in the Benedictine tradition has an important spiritual relationship with the bishop, even if, at times, the details can be a bit murky. Still, the bishop’s presence is a visible reminder that Saint Benedict did not intend for his monks to wander off, doing their own thing. We monks are part of the Church, and with the larger Christian community, we pilgrimage to the Lord. Complementing that relationship with the Church, the very nature of the office of abbot distinguishes a Benedictine monastery from a secular institution. It’s true that Saint John’s Abbey has a legal existence in the state of Minnesota as the Order of Saint Benedict, Inc. But unlike other corporations, we believe that our CEO holds the place of Christ in our midst. It’s an awesome responsibility to be the face of Christ to the monks, but Saint Benedict makes explicit that the abbot does have that responsibility. With it comes the allegorical language that Saint Benedict invests in the office. The abbot is a shepherd of souls. He is a wise physician. He is a careful and dexterous manager, seeing to the needs of each monk. But he is not a dictator. He ought to inspire the strong but not run the fragile monk into the ground. He is accountable for his actions, and Saint Benedict cautions the abbot that at the last judgment, there will be a performance appraisal. He will have to give an accounting for each monk in his care.   Given all that, why would any monk want that kind of job? A qualified candidate would not! And why would such a monk accept such a job? A monk accepts it out of a sense of duty. He accepts it, convinced that the Holy Spirit has spoken through his brothers who called him to the task. And he accepts it in the conviction that the Lord who has begun such good work will walk with him and bring it to completion. Blessings, Fr. Geoffrey Fecht, OSB --------------------- Click here: To view the Mass and blessing   Abbot Doug's remarks begin at 1.39.14 Abbot Douglas Mullin, OSB Elected Eleventh Abbot of Saint John's Abbey

By Tom McGuire, USCCA Board Member St Ignatius of Antioch (50-110 AD) wrote,   “Give heed to the bishop, that God also may give heed to you.” This ancient advice would not be possible if there were no bishop. The 2018 Provisional Agreement between the People’s Republic of China and the Holy See made the ordination of three Bishops in China possible. For Catholics who have been without a bishop, this is an opportunity to heed the pastoral direction of a bishop that God may give heed to them. This is a time of building communion of the Catholic Church in China with the universal Church. The opinions about the 2018 Provisional Agreement have been divisive. Division and quarrels among the friends of Jesus are not new. The New Testament makes clear that even on the night before Jesus was to suffer and die, he prayed: ‘May they be one as we are one.’ (John 17.11). His friends did not understand what was happening to Jesus. They were instead focused on fear about their future, which brought about division and quarrels among them. Like Jesus’ first friends, today, Catholic friends of Jesus in China and the United States are fearful of how the decisions of Church leaders may impact their future, leading to division and quarrels within the Church. Is this what Jesus was praying to prevent? The ordination of three new Bishops in China is an opportunity for us to leave room for doubt. The ordination of three bishops may not be a bridge to friendship and dialogue between the people of China and Catholics. Rather than quarrel and create division, let us pray that the Holy Spirit will move the bishops' hearts to witness genuine reconciliation within the Church, which seemed impossible in earlier times. May all the Catholic friends of Jesus live the mission of the Church as a proclamation of the Good News of the Gospel for all people.  John C.H. Wu, a great Chinese Catholic legal scholar, states the mission in these words.   “...there is no other way of loving God than by loving. Love—as Christ loved Compassionately Serve—as Christ served Mercifully Forgive—as Christ forgave Willing to suffer—as Christ suffered Be Free, life-giving, and joyful—as Christ is.” The three new bishops are:  Bishop Wang Yuesheng, 57, of the Diocese of Zhengzhou in the Province of Kaifeng, was ordained to the episcopacy on December 16, 2023. The Diocese has been without a bishop since Bishop Faustino Tissot, a Xaverian missionary appointed by Pius Xii in 1946, was expelled in 1953. Bishop Anthony Sun Wenjun, 53, of the newly formed Diocese of Weifang Shandong Province, was ordained to the episcopacy on January 29, 2024. Bishop Peter Wu Yishun, 59, of the Diocese of Shaowu (Minbei) in the Province of Fujian, was ordained to the episcopacy on January 31, 2024. I invite your comments and prayers for the good of the pastoral mission of the Catholic Church in China.

The 29th International Conference August 2-4, 2024 Chicago, Illinois, USA Conference Theme: "Our Hope is in Christ" Announcement and Call for Submissions Peace Sunday — 14 January 2024 Dear Friends, Peace Sunday is an annual opportunity to renew our commitment to work for peace and justice — and HOPE — in our world. This Sunday, we are pleased to announce that the theme for this year's 29th International Conference has been chosen: "Our Hope is in Christ." You can find more information about this year's conference at the web page on this year's conference theme ; we also encourage you to subscribe to additional conference updates by clicking here . Our call for submissions will be open until March 1st. We look forward to receiving submissions promoting friendship, dialogue, and peace between people in China and the USA. Please click here to find our full call for submissions , and feel free to share that link with anyone in your networks who might be able to contribute. We look forward to learning with you on August 2-4, 2024, at DePaul University. Blessings, The 29th International Conference Committee and All of us at the USCCA

Inspired by the Gospel, the mission of the US-China Catholic Association is to build bridges of friendship and dialogue between the people of China and the United States by offering educational, service, and cultural programs in support of the Church and the larger society. USCCA 2024 CONFERENCE ANNOUNCEMENT AND CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS 29 th  Biennial Conference and 35 th  Anniversary of the USCCA August 2 to 4, 2024 DePaul University, Chicago, USA Conference theme: “Our Hope is in Christ.” “May the God of Hope bring you such joy and peace in your faith that the power of the Holy Spirit will remove all bounds to hope.” (Romans 15:13)   For Saint Paul hope was not the same as optimism. He wrote when many Christians were suffering martyrdom, the church was suffering serious divisions, and he was in prison awaiting execution. Hope is a theological virtue enabling us to face foreboding realities with the help of the Holy Spirit. Throughout the 35 years since its founding, USCCA has remained faithful to the spirit of St. Paul, and has remained strong in the hope for friendship and peace between the people of China and the United States. Hope is enabled by humble dialogue among persons in hard times, and dialogue is made possible through building channels of communication. Our 29th conference in 2024 will explore how to build these channels between American and Chinese Christians and the people of all faith in our challenging world. We will be especially eager to listen prayerfully to our Chinese brothers and sisters and learn from their witness to the faith. Keynote speakers will discuss the signs of the times, wars and rumors of wars and the tensions between the US and China that endanger global peace. On the first evening, we will provide historical perspective for how Chinese Christianity has responded to such situations; on the second day we will focus on Christian responses to their current situation; on the third day we will offer perspectives of hope for the future. On each day we will strive to learn, receive mutual inspiration and understanding for the flourishing of the Church in China. Our panelists will discuss the building of mutual understanding and interpersonal encounter that will forge channels of communication within which blessed hope can arise. Panelists will discuss their perspectives, experiences, expertise, as well as share hopeful signs of the future on three main topics: (a) theology and faith formation in the Chinese context, (b) clergy and church life in China, and (c) social services in China by both religious and lay people in both rural and urban communities. We will encourage dialogue and interaction between speakers and all participants. The USCCA has been dedicated to building such channels for the past 35 years and we earnestly hope that this conference will discover new ways to fulfill this mission for the future years. We hope you will join us in the celebration of 35 years of USCCA and together to develop a vision and path for the future 35 years. Call for Submissions Submission Deadline: March 1, 2024 We are calling for you to share your work on promoting friendship, dialogue, and peace between people in China and the USA in your role as intellectuals, as community leaders, members of religious organizations, and of nonprofit agencies dedicated to promoting US-China friendship and dialogue. The work can be broad or fall into anyone of the three main panel topics of: (a) theology and faith formation in the Chinese context, 
 (b) clergy leadership and church life in China, and (c) social services in China by both religious and lay people in both rural and urban communities. The work also can be about interfaith dialogue or collaboration on any of the above topics. We are particularly interested in projects or programs or research that focus on the Chinese youth. Submission guidelines: Please send a 3-page document (in English) describing the program including the activities, the desired and anticipated accompaniment and friendship outcomes as well as the overall impact on Chinese and American Friendship. The document should include the following information: Page 1: Your first, middle, and last name; Your affiliation or institution (with website link to your institution); Your professional role and position in your institution; the title of your project/work/presentation; Your mailing address, email address, cell phone number, and personal webpage if any. Page 2-3: No more than 1000-word description, single spaced, 12-pitch font size, approximate 500 words per page. Please describe both the content of your presentation, and format. We encourage interaction with participants for a more lively and engaging exchange and learning. We may consider a panel submission if you would like to propose two to three speakers dedicated to the same topic or program. Please submit as a ‘package’ with a 3-page document for each speaker. Put all speakers’ documents together into one single file with a cover page indicating that this is a panel submission and the contact information for the corresponding person for this submission. We assume this person also would serve as the “chair” of the panel being proposed. Submission Procedure: Please send your individual or panel submission file labeled as “USCCA 2024 Conference Submission – your full name” to Anne S. Tsui, the Secretary of USCCA Board at this email address: board@uscatholicchina.org . Please use “2024 conference submission” in the Subject heading of your email. Submission deadline is March 1, 2024. You will be informed of decision by April 1, 2024. Authors whose work is accepted must register for the conference and present the work in person. Co-authors are acceptable but no substitute by non-authors of the submissions. Submission Inquiries: Please send any submission-related inquiries to Dr. Richard Madsen, Program Chair, and other inquiries to Fr. Francis Li, Conference chair, at this email address: board@uscatholicchina.org . Please use “2024 Conference inquiry” in the subject heading of the email message. Information about the program schedule, keynote speakers and registration process will be forthcoming soon. Please stay tuned. We look forward to your enthusiastic participation in the USCCA’s 29th conference and 35th year celebration by submitting your work to share with conference participants and your participation at the conference in Chicago on August 2-4, 2024. USCCA Board 2024 Conference Committee Fr. Francis Li, 29th Conference Committee Chair, Director USCCA Board Fr. Rob Carbonneau, CP, Emeritus Director USCCA Board Dr. Richard Madsen, Director and Vice Chair USCCA Board Mr. Tom McGuire, Emeritus Director USCCA Board Mr. Herb Quinde, Director USCCA Board Ms. Mary Sluka, Director USCCA Board Fr. Hugh O’Donnell, CM, Director USCCA Board Dr. Anne S. Tsui, Secretary and Director USCCA Board

Dear Friends in Christ: Here's hoping you enjoyed a happy New Year. As we venture to discover what 2024 will bring, let us remember that we do "not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4, NAB). Reading Scripture in community with friends is a life-giving activity. With the Chinese-English Bible currently available for purchase on our website, you can learn more about the connections between Chinese and English through faithful translations of ancient Greek and Hebrew biblical texts. We encourage you to consider how your faith community might benefit from the introduction of several bilingual Bibles for group study. This Bible also makes a wonderful gift for anyone seeking to understand how Christ's message speaks across languages and cultures. Click on this link to place your order now . Deepen your understanding of words in Chinese and English through study of the divinely inspired Word. We thank you for supporting our mission of friendship and unity with the Catholics in China. Blessings, All of us at the USCCA _______________________________________________ DONATE

Friends in Christ. As we observe the Solemnity of Mary with the beginning of a new year, let us pray for the grace which might enable us to recognize and act in accordance with God's will. As Mary walked by faith in bearing the Savior, may we strive to walk by faith into a year of peace, reconciliation, and global dialogue. May we continue to draw inspiration from the Holy Mother in her cherishing care for God's promises. Blessings, All of us at the USCCA

Friends in Christ: As 2023 concludes, we are thankful. As 2024 begins, let us be inspired. We pray for the Catholic Church in China; we pray for the people of the world. As we ring in the new year, we hope you'll support the mission of the USCCA by making a tax-deductible donation before midnight, 31 December 2023. Happy New Year and the Peace of Jesus Christ to all. With appreciation, Peter Tan, Chair Richard Madsen, Vice-Chair Anne Tsui, Secretary Deacon Doug Lovejoy And all of us at the USCCA _______________________________________________ MAKE YOUR 2023 GIFT 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. We thank you for your invaluable support.

Hope in Christ’s Love, the prayer at Christmas Mass by Tom McGuire, USCCA Board of Directors A friend from Beijing sent me this story of a young Catholic couple in their 20s. They’re just married and face the challenge of the unexpected illness of a parent. They reflect on God, who becomes human to dwell among us because of God's love for us. In the example of God’s love, they seek to find a way to endure the pains of their future life. The Husband asks, “How do we, as husband and wife, transform hardships and pain into love? Because of our love for one another, we support each other in the pains of life. Our choice of married life flows from God’s love and gives us the responsibility to form a small family. Our future will require supporting and providing for the livelihood of our parents and caring for our children.  As a newly married couple, we are facing more significant and more painful pressure from the unexpected illness of my mother. This is a test of our love for each other. God, who was born as a man because of his love for us, is an example, in Christ, of word and deed of how we are to love and endure the pains and hardships of life.” Nativity Scene in front of the National Seminary in Beijing  Let us pray with this young couple and many others like them in China. This prayer of Christmas Mass asks for what we hope for in Christ- that our human love be shared in divine love.  O God, who wonderfully created the dignity of human nature and still more wonderfully restored it, grant, we pray, that we may share in the divinity of Christ, who humbled himself to share in our humanity. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen ________________________________________________________ Inspired by the Gospel, the mission for the last 35 years of the US-China Catholic Association is to build bridges of friendship and dialogue between the people of China and the United States by offering educational, service, and cultural programs to support the Church and the larger society. Please join us in this important work by contributing to the USCCA today. Sign up to be a USCCA Affiliate to support the mission and vision. Together, we can make a difference.

Friends in Christ: May the Holy Family teach us love and understanding through the mystery of the Incarnation! This painting, entitled "Nativity" (circa 1940s), was painted by Chinese artist Luke Chen (1902-1967). He painted traditional Catholic images in a traditional Chinese style. "Nativity" was presented as a gift to Passionist Cuthbert O'Gara, (1886-1968), missionary to China and Bishop of Yuanling, Hunan, China (1934-1968). The Passionist China Collection has kindly granted us permission to include it here. As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, we wish you and your loved ones a joyful Christmas. Blessings, All of us at the USCCA

December 20, 2023 Friends in Christ: Advent is a season of anticipation. Gazing upon an Advent wreath reminds us to prepare the way of the Lord in unique ways. This Advent, we can join together by paying special attention to Christmas decorations and displays with religious images. This 1920s photo from the Passionist China Collection shows St. Augustine Church in Chenzhou, (present day Yuanling), Hunan, China. We invite you to join with the US-China Catholic Association to remember the legacy of faith between 20th-century Chinese Catholic missionaries as it shares new hope with contemporary Catholics. Our prayers together and your financial donation (large or small) assist in our mission of friendship this Christmas 2023. Peace of the Advent Season From all of us associated with the US-China Catholic Association