USCCA Parish Mission Appeals: Continuing the United States-China Friendship of Faith July 28, 2019, Mission Appeal talk at St Therese Church in Mooresville, North Carolina. —A quote from the talk: John Wu, a well-known Chinese Catholic lawyer and author, captured the core of the USCCA Mission: “...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." Tom McGuire, USCCA Board of Directors For the past 35 years, the USCCA has shared a mutual story of faith, thanks, and learning between Catholics in China, who have been discovering and living the Good News of Jesus Christ, with Catholics in the United States. Such mission appeals are common in most parishes across the United States at weekend Masses. During these Eucharistic celebrations, USCCA preachers or guest speakers reflect, educate, and proclaim a common experience: the mission of building bridges of friendship and dialogue with Chinese people in partnership with Catholics in China that has taken place since the early 1900s. Since 1989, this shared message of the USCCA has taken place in an estimated 150 dioceses and 500+ parishes; perhaps 500,000 Catholics have heard the message. This faith story unites people in the pews throughout the United States, allowing them to reflect on their relationship with the Chinese Catholic Church and its intimate communion with the Universal Church. These encounters at the parish level demonstrate how shared friendship, awareness and acknowledgment of common sufferings, and dialogue to establish sustained common faith continue between Chinese Catholics and Catholics in the United States. If you have been one of the people in the pews who have contributed and listened to our story, we thank you. At the same time, we invite all of you parishioners and others who are reading this reflection to grow in the shared interest you and others have about the Chinese Catholics and the USCCA mission. Such participation can be through engagement with our ongoing interdisciplinary initiatives, generous financial support, and prayerful participation as a mutual witness of faith in the Gospel and the living hope of Christ today. In addition, the USCCA Board of Directors and Affiliated Members are available to lead guided conversations, either in person or via Zoom, throughout the year, upon request. To learn more, please get in touch with Anne Tsui, Board Secretary, at board@uscatholicchina.org -------

USCCA BOOK CIRCLE: A WORD OF WELCOME The USCCA Book Circle began three years ago to create an opportunity for members and affiliates of the USCCA and interested friends and neighbors to deepen their knowledge of the culture, wisdom, history, and spirituality of China and share experiences and love of the Chinese people. A leadership group, which welcomes recommendations from the group, chooses the book or relevant article(s) for discussion and sharing. The discussion on Zoom is usually limited to one hour once a month. Our goal is to deepen our understanding and friendship with the people of China as an alternative to engaging in the adversarial politics of the present moment. Over the past couple of years, we've read and discussed John C.H. Wu's fantastic autobiography, with his youngest son, 80-year-old John Wu, Jr, and his wife Terry, who now lives in Alexandria, Virginia, joining us and giving us excellent first-hand insights! We also read and discussed John Lindblom's article, "John C.H. Wu and the Evangelization of China," facilitated by John himself and Dr Richard Madsen's China's Catholics - Tragedy and Hope in an Emerging Civil Society, also facilitated by the author himself. Having the authors join the conversation was very enriching. We will begin in January 2024. We hope to read and discuss two books and two articles in 2024. More news is coming soon. ------ The USCCA Book Circle is coordinated by the USCCA Board of Directors, Mary Sluka, and Fr. Hugh O'Donnell. ----- Beyond East and West Catholic Press Association Book Award: Memoir, Third Place "When John C. H. Wu’s spiritual autobiography Beyond East and West was published in 1951, it became an instant Catholic best seller and was compared to Thomas Merton’s The Seven Storey Mountain , which had appeared four years earlier. It was also hailed as the new Confession of St. Augustine for its moving description of Wu’s conversion in 1937 and early years as a Catholic. This new edition, including a foreward written by Wu’s son John Wu, Jr., makes this profoundly beautiful book by one of the most influential Chinese lay Catholic intellectuals of the twentieth century available for a new generation of readers hungry for spiritual sustenance. Beyond East and West recounts the story of Wu’s early life in Ningpo, China, his family and friendships, education and law career, drafting of the constitution of the Republic of China, translation of the Bible into classical Chinese in collaboration with Chinese president Chiang Kai-Shek, and his role as China’s delegate to the Holy See. In passages of arresting beauty, the book reveals the development of his thought and the progress of his growth toward love of God, arriving through experience at the conclusion that the wisdom in all of China’s traditions, especially Confucian thought, Taoism, and Buddhism, point to universal truths that come from, and are fulfilled in, Christ. In Beyond East and West , Wu develops a synthesis between Catholicism and the ancient culture of the Orient. A sublime expression of faith, here is a book for anyone who seeks the peace of the spirit, a memorable book whose ideas will linger long after its pages are closed." source: click here.

In the spirit of “Communion, Participation, Mission,” the theme of the Synod, I was delighted to learn that Pope Francis invited two Bishops from Mainland China to join the October Synod in Rome. What a visible symbol of unity and a concrete witness of the universality of our Church! The Spirit continues to work wonders. Bishop Yao, one of the two Bishops attending the Synod, was interviewed on his experience of the Synod on Synodality. I knew Bishop Yao when I was in the Seminary, where he taught liturgy. He is a humble and wonderful human being. His experience of participating in the Synod has changed him and enriched the synod. His invitation for us to “show God’s mercy and love to all,” in the interview is at the core of our faith and discipleship. I invite you to take some time to read the interview and pray for him and the Church in China. ~ Father Francis Li, USCCA Board Member Chair of the 2024 Biennial Conference (Chicago at DePaul University, 2-4 August 2024) ------------------------------------------------------- Chinese bishop reflects on his experience at the Synod on Synodality By Courtney Mares , Rome Newsroom, Nov 17, 2023 / 11:56 am A Chinese bishop who attended the Synod on Synodality assembly has spoken out about his experience, saying he was cheered to meet Catholics from all over the world and to discover that many showed great interest in and were praying for the Church in China. Bishop Antonio Yao Shun of Jining was the first bishop consecrated in China under the terms of the Sino-Vatican agreement. He was one of two bishops from mainland China who participated in the first half of the synod assembly in October before suddenly departing early without explanation. In an interview with the Pontifical Mission Societies’ information service, Agenzia Fides, published on Nov. 16, Yao said that he was very grateful to Pope Francis for inviting him and Bishop Joseph Yang to attend the synod. “We were very happy to meet all these bishops, priests, men and women of different religious and lay orders from all over the world during the synod. Everyone was friendly and cheerful. They welcomed us and showed us their consideration,” Yao said. “They all showed interest in the development of the Church in China, eager to know more and to pray for us.” Yao is the bishop of Jining, located in China’s northern Autonomous Region of Inner Mongolia. Born in Ulanqab in 1965, he is a native of Inner Mongolia. He both studied and taught at the national seminary in Beijing. In the interview, the Chinese bishop shared a little bit about his Catholic roots and vocation story. “I was born into a Catholic family. My parents and grandparents were very devout and faithful. It is with them that I began to walk in faith and received many graces from God,” he said. Yao described how the greatest influence on his vocation came from an elderly priest. “His virtues and his selfless dedication to the Church inspired me,” he said. “Meanwhile, my parents’ encouragement and support further strengthened my will and determination to pursue the path of the priesthood.” After his ordination in 1991, Yao completed a degree in liturgy in the United States at St. John’s University in Minnesota from 1994 to 1998. He also spent some time pursuing biblical studies in Jerusalem. He went on to serve as the secretary and later vice director of the liturgical commission overseen by the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association and the Council of Chinese Bishops, returning to the Diocese of Jining to serve as vicar general in 2010. The New York Times reported in 2019 that the Vatican had approved Yao as the successor of Bishop John Liu Shigong in the Diocese of Jining in 2010, but the Chinese government refused to approve him, even after Bishop Liu died in 2017 at the age of 89. Yao said that it is his impression that the “prevailing opinion” in China is that the provisional agreement signed by Beijing and the Holy See in 2018, often referred to as the Vatican-China deal, was “very significant” and “paves the way for promoting integration and unity between the Church in China and the universal Church.” He said that he has seen a slight decrease in the number of baptisms in his diocese but still has young people and adults coming forward to ask for and receive baptism, something he attributes to “the good example set by the parishioners and the kindness, encouragement, and comfort that the local Church shows towards them.” “In my opinion, the first mission of us Chinese Catholics is to show God’s mercy and love to all other Chinese,” Yao said. “We really care about the needs of society, especially those of the poor and the suffering, and we try to help them in every way.” -------------- * Courtney Mares is a Rome Correspondent for Catholic News Agency. A graduate of Harvard University, she has reported from news bureaus on three continents and was awarded the Gardner Fellowship for her work with North Korean refugees. * Bishop Yao Shun of Jining (left) and Bishop Yang Yongqiang of Zhouchun (right) of the People's Republic of China at the Synod on Synodality at the Vatican in October 2023. | Vatican Media

November 2023 Dear Friend, A very special Thanksgiving. Greetings from the USCCA! We bring you and your families our sincerest wishes for a happy, healthy, and blessed Thanksgiving! May the Lord bring you joy and peace as we prepare to begin the season of Advent. The USCCA is thankful for you and your steadfast support of the USCCA over the years. As we begin this Advent season and prepare for Thanksgiving, the Board of Directors of the USCCA reflects upon the 35 years since its founding in 1989. We are grateful for the support of our friends, partners, and patrons. We especially look forward to 2024, when the USCCA will celebrate its 35th anniversary at its 29th biennial conference in Chicago on Friday, 2 August 2024 to Sunday, 4 August 2024 with our theme, "Our Hope is in Christ" to be held at DePaul University Lincoln Park Campus, Chicago. We hope many of you will join us in this extraordinary celebration. We would like to share with you a letter from the Board with updates on USCCA and an invitation to continue your support. May the Lord bless you and your family abundantly this Thanksgiving and beyond! From all of us at the USCCA … Officers Chair Peter Tan Houston, TX Vice-chair Richard Madsen, Ph.D. San Diego, CA Treasurer Deacon Doug Lovejoy, Colonel, USA (Ret), MPA, Ph.D. Annapolis, MD Secretary Anne S. Tsui, Ph.D. Paradise Valley, AZ Directors Rev. John S. Chen, Ph.D. Winchester, MA Sr. Maria Lai, CSJ Los Angeles, CA Rev. Francis Li, D.Min. Chicago, IL Rev. Joseph Lin, CM Brooklyn, NY Rev. Hugh O'Donnell, CM, Ph.D. Chicago, IL Herbert Quinde Chicago, IL Mary Sluka Riverside, IL Carolyn Woo, Ph.D. South Bend, IN Directors Emeriti Rev. Rob Carbonneau, CP, Ph.D. Chestnut Hill, MA Anthony E. Clark, Ph.D., FRHistS Spokane, WA Most Rev. John S. Cummins Oakland, CA Luke Liu Sugar Land, TX Thomas McGuire, M.Div., M.R.E. Chicago, IL Rev. Doug Mullen, OSB Collegeville, MN Jean-Paul Wiest, PhD Newcastle, WA Associate Directors Fr. Tim Kilkelly, MM. Minneapolis, MN Stephen C. Tsai, Ph.D. Walnut Creek, CA Chief Administrative Officer Gerald Doyle Chicago, IL Read the biographies of the USCCA Board here DONATE TODAY

By Theologian & Missiologist BRAD VAUGHN, Ph.D. (formerly “Jackson Wu”) As part of our ongoing joint lecture series with China Source and the China Academic Consortium , we will be co-hosting the autumn lecture on Saturday, November 11. Dr. Brad Vaughn (formerly known as Jackson Wu) will present the lecture, entitled “Salvation in a Chinese Context.” Brad Vaughn holds a Ph.D. from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and is the theologian in residence with Global Training Network . He previously lived and worked in East Asia for almost two decades, teaching theology and missiology to Chinese pastors. He serves on the Asian/Asian-American theology steering committee of the Evangelical Theological Society and is the author of Saving God’s Face , One Gospel for All Nations , Reading Romans with Eastern Eyes , Seeking God’s Face , and The Cross in Context . You can find his articles and resources on his blog, savinggodsface.com . He is also a regular contributor to ChinaSource. Those of you in the Bay Area can attend the lecture in person at the First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley. If you can’t make it to the live lecture, register anyway and you’ll be sent a link to a recording. Here are the details: In-Person Saturday, November 11, 2023 First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley 2407 Dana St. Berkeley, CA 94704 5–6 pm: light meal and fellowship 6--7:30 pm: lecture and Q&A closing at 8 p.m. Register by November 5—email to: operations@errchina.com A video link will be provided to registered guests unable to attend in person. This event is being hosted by the China Academic Consortium (ERRChina ) and co-hosted by the United States-China Catholic Association (USCCA) and ChinaSource . We hope to see you there.

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.