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Palm Sunday: A Meditation- Remembrance of celebration and sufferings.       The USCCA invites you to participate in the journey of Lent. The Palm Sunday liturgy acknowledges the beginning of Holy Week. Churches are often filled. It is essential to reflect on how we are united with other people in the churches worldwide who also receive their blessed palms. Of course, this first part of the Palm Sunday liturgy recalls Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. These people knew of and wished to celebrate the ministry of Jesus, which we know from the four Gospel narratives. Photo by Father Rob Carbonneau, C.P., Ph.D.             Then, the Palm Sunday liturgy takes on a new perspective. This year, 2024, we will listen to Mark 14: 1-15:47. This passion narrative invites us to be observant. When coupled with the Palm Sunday experience, we would do well to concentrate on the celebrations and sufferings of our lives. To live with a mature faith, we must be aware of both dimensions. As we proceed into Holy Week 2024, What two dynamic joys are present for you now? What two heavy crosses are you carrying at this time? For many Chinese international students who arrive to study in the US, experiencing "dynamic joys and heavy crosses" can be isolating. With this in mind, the USCCA launched its Chinese and American Friendship Ministr y (CAAFM) . It aims to broaden engagement with students from China who come to the U.S. for university education. In the spirit of Pope Francis, the USCCA understands the importance of this opportunity for meaningful dialogue and friendship and that a "culture of encounters" creates spaces and places to experience the best of American culture, values, and faith intelligible to people from a very different socio-cultural background.   The mission of the USCCA is inspired by the Gospel and based on building trust, friendship, dialogue, and mutual respect, which comes from the heartbeat of life. We stand ready to share the source of our inspiration with those who seek to know the Gospel through an accompaniment of our individual and shared celebrations and suffering. Yes, Palm Sunday invites us into Holy Week: a remembrance of celebration and suffering. Lenten Blessings and Peace, Rev. Rob Carbonneau, CP, Ph.D., Director Emeritus And All of us at the USCCA -----------------------   Note: I took this photo in Chongqing, China. From 2007 to 2008, I was a foreign expert professor at Sichuan International Studies University. Weather and the urban mood during the weeks following the February Lunar New Year of 2008 were dismal. Seeking to rekindle my spirit, I took the short early morning bus to the nearby Shapingba district, where I attended the Palm Sunday liturgy. When I received my palms, I felt peaceful. It happened that I walked out of that church alongside two women and a young child. I entered into a quiet conversation. Just as we were about to go our separate ways, I asked if I might take their photo. They agreed. As the years have passed, I have found great encouragement from this photo.  I often wonder what the experience of these two Chinese Catholic women was. What have been their celebrations and sufferings? As I look at the child in this photo sixteen years later, I wonder what that person is doing.  Still, I never tire of looking at this 2008 photo. It inspires me to possess a global faith that continues to be so nourished by Chinese Catholic history, tradition, culture, and society . ---------------------------------- THE JOURNEY OF LENT REFLECTIONS ~ from Rev. Rob Carbonneau, CP, Ph.D., Director Emeritus The Journey of Lent: Week 1 The Journey of Lent: Week 2 The Journey of Lent: Week 3 The Journey of Lent: Week 4 The Journey of Lent: Week 5 Finally, if you have enjoyed visiting the USCCA website and want to learn more about our mission, please contact director@uschinacatholic.org  or consider donating $35 to honor the 35th anniversary  of the USCCA.

We are glad to announce that José Casanova, a leading scholar in the sociology of religion and Professor Emeritus at Georgetown University, has agreed to present a webinar hosted by the USCCA, ChinaSource, and China Academic Consortium : "The Three Phases of the Globalization of Catholicism in Asia, with special focus on developments in China" José Casanova, Ph.D. June 10, 2024 7:30 p.m. (ET) Online via Zoom José Casanova is a Senior Fellow at the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs, and Emeritus Professor of Sociology and Theology and Religious Studies at Georgetown University. From 1987 to 2007, he served as Professor of Sociology at the New School for Social Research, NY. His book, Public Religions in the Modern World , (Chicago, 1994) has become a modern classic and has been translated into many European and non-European languages. Casanova holds a B.A. in Philosophy from the Seminario Metropolitano in Zaragoza, Spain, an M.A. in Theology from Universität Innsbruck, Austria, and an M.A. and a Ph.D. in Sociology from the New School for Social Research. He is the recipient of the 2012 Theologischer Preis der Salzburger Hochschulwochen in recognition of his life-long achievement in the field of theology.  Dr. Casanova's talk will be about 30 minutes, followed by approximately 30 minutes of questions and answers from the audience. The event will be moderated by none other than Richard Madsen, Ph.D., USCCA board member and author of 15 books on China and China-US relations. Please register for this event and submit any questions you would like to ask through the audience registration and question submission form . Attendees are encouraged to read some of Dr. Casanova's work beforehand: Jesuit Contributions to Global Connectivity and Global Consciousness in the Early Modern Era Introduction and Chapter 1 of Asian Pacific Catholicism and Globalization We look forward with great anticipation to Dr. Casanova's talk, and hope with sincerity that you are able to attend. For additional opportunities to learn through the USCCA, we encourage you to register as a participant in the 29th International Conference .

Together we celebrate Our Mother of Sheshan on May 24, 2024. We are invited to unite in prayer with Chinese Catholics this sacred pilgrimage site located a top a mountain side in the Songjiang District, in Western Shanghai. At the 1924 Shanghai Synod of Bishops in China, the image known as "Our Lady of China"; or "Our Lady Queen of China" was chosen. Thus, some historical suggest that that 2024 marks the 100th anniversary of this event which helped to promote annual devotional pilgrimages. People began coming to the shrine. Meditate on this historic and rare photo from the Passionist China Collection which shows the Sheshan Basilica from the 1920s. 800.30_054.008 Copyright Image from the Passionist China Collection. Digitized at the Ricci Institute for Chinese-Western Cultural History at Boston College. ----- The U.S.-China Catholic Association invites you to reflect on how your life continues to be a pilgrimage? who has assisted you in that journey? with whom have you crossed paths during these travels? what are the diverse ways that have you come to understand China? in what ways might you be open to learn from the faith lived by Chinese Catholics? perhaps Our Mother of Sheshan is speaking to you on May 24, 2024? We are all on a pilgrimage together and Our Mother of Sheshan invites us to meet one another. So please consider coming to Chicago to attend our International USCCA China Conference from August 2-4, 2024: the Theme of the Conference is "Our Hope is in Christ." Registration details click here. In May 2007, Pope Benedict XVI (1927-2022) released a Letter to Chinese Catholics, in which he asked that May 24 each year be celebrated as a World Day of Prayer for the Church in China. He chose May 24 because it is the Feast of Our Lady Help of Christians, who is venerated at the Shrine of Sheshan in Shanghai. Reflection by Father Rob Carbonneau, C.P., Ph.D. Director Emeritus, USCCA ------- Our MISSION 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. Our VISION The US-China Catholic Association was founded in 1989 by concerned U.S. bishops Maryknoll, the Jesuits, and representatives of other religious orders to promote mutual support and fraternal ties between the Church in China and the U.S. Church. ________________ The USCCA is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. Your donations are tax-deductible to the maximum extent allowed by law. The success of our work depends upon the generosity of people like you. If you have enjoyed visiting the USCCA website and want to learn more about our mission, please get in touch with director@uschinacatholic.org  or consider donating $35 to honor the 35th anniversary  of 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. November 2024 Friends in Christ. The US-China Catholic Association (USCCA) is launching its 2024 Annual Appeal. We thank you for your past support and hope you will continue supporting our program and mission through a positive response to this Appeal. USCCA was born in 1989. We remain dedicated to building bridges of friendship in support of our Catholic brothers and sisters in China and throughout the United States. In  August 2024, we celebrated the 35th year since the founding of the USCCA at the 29th International Conference, which gathered 135+ lay and religious individuals in Chicago from many countries including the U.S. and China. In a video message from Cardinal Stephen Chow of Hong Kong shown on Sunday morning of the Conference, he reminded us that: "The basis of your association must be 'friendship.' A friendship that is characterized by understanding, respect, acceptance, and finding God in the Chinese culture. Yet, without a bridge, a connection will not happen. One of the celebrated ways to foster interculturality is through "bridge-building", connecting the two cultural land masses. However, being a bridge or a bridge-builder is not as romantic as it might sound. We should bear in mind that a bridge is useless until it is walked all over or rolled over by vehicles… Is the Association ready to play that critical role?" “Yes,” is the response of the USCCA to Cardinal Chow’s challenge. Since the 1600s, being Catholic in China has required stamina of faith; and this remains true today. These challenges represent our creative common witness and love for the Gospel. May our compassion allow us to travel on the road to reconciliation through fostering dialogues and building friendships between the peoples of China and the United States. The 29th International Conference reaffirmed the USCCA as a “culture and community of encounter”— to borrow from Pope Francis. Take a moment to watch a 90-second over of our three-days together. We have dedicated the next 12 months to strategizing for the future and reimagining concrete ideas and programs for how the USCCA can live out its mission in the years to come. The 2024 Annual Appeal seeks to raise $100,000. Your support will enable us to ● increase our information and educational sources through our website, webinars, and with our USCCA partners. ● plan for our 30th International Conference to be held in Houston, Texas during the summer of 2026. ● learn from and serve existing Chinese Catholic parish communities throughout the United States. ● increase the reach and impact of our Chinese and American Friendship Ministry for support and accompaniment of Chinese students in American colleges and universities. ● extend the reach of our Mission Cooperative Program to Catholic parishes via year-round educational offerings. ● welcome young participants into the USCCA’s Af iliate Program who wish to use their talents to expand our engagement with the public. ● expand our thriving Book Circle program for those inspired to learn about Chinese religion and culture. ● encourage scholars to research the rich legacy of Chinese Catholicism in China and the United States. ● develop an organizational structure to support the USCCA's future and hire the next Executive Director. The USCCA was founded to continue the tradition of over 33 American religious congregations of men and women, mission societies, and laity who were missionaries to China in the twentieth century. Your engagement with the USCCA, as well as your spiritual and financial contribution, large or small, allows you to personally invest and see how the Gospel will come to life for all of us who are united in faith with Chinese Catholics in China and the United States in 2025 and years to come. We have a new Board with new officers, many new directors, and energy. We are committed to furthering our mission with your support in new and creative ways. Thank you in advance for your generosity. You can learn about the USCCA at our website and donate to the 2024 Annual Appeal here. Peace, blessings, and hope. The USCCA Board The USCCA Board The USCCA is a recognized Catholic organization under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Oakland. It is a 501(c)(3) organization and your donation is tax-deductible, as allowed by law. The success of our work depends upon the generosity of caring people like you. Tel: (510) 900-2015 • E-mail: Director@USCatholicChina.org

On November 8, 2025, the US-China Catholic Association Book Circle gathered to discuss the section entitled "Christianity: The Only Synthesis Really Possible Between East and West" (pp. 159–172) in John C. H. Wu's Chinese Humanism and Christian Spirituality . More than a dozen participants gathered for this virtual discussion of some of the biggest ideas in world history. Image from Angelico Press Participants discussed Wu's perspective of Christianity as a bridge between the ancient Greek philosophers and the ancient sages of China; between Law and Gospel; and between Confucian virtue and the intuitive virtuosity of Daoism. Participants also reflected on John C. H. Wu's connection with Thérèse of Lisieux. The USCCA's Executive Director, Dr. Benjamin T. OuYang, shared the following lesson that he learned from humble Thérèse's life of service: "to love people who annoy you, find Jesus in the person that annoys you in the most hidden parts of their soul." Our next Book Circle meeting will be held at 6AM PT / 7AM MT / 8AM CT / 9AM ET on December 13, 2025. We will be discussing "Water and Wine: Chinese Ethics and the Christian Faith" (pp. 173–197), the last chapter in Wu's work. Chinese Humanism and Christian Spirituality  is now available from   Angelico Press  for 15% off with the discount code wu15 . If you have not yet joined us for a Book Circle discussion, please sign up for Book Circle email updates  today  and invite your friends to do the same! For in-person opportunities to learn about theology, history, and the life of the Church in China, we invite you to read about our upcoming 30th International Conference . USCCA programs like the Book Circle and International Conferences are made possible by supporters like you; even if you cannot participate directly, we ask that you please consider how you might contribute to our mission by way of our Annual Appeal . ---------------------- 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 are glad to share that we are almost halfway to our goal of $100,000 for this year's Annual Appeal. As one donor remarked, "I support USCCA because of its mission of friendship, which is foundational to trust and peace not only between China and USA, but throughout the world!"  Will you help us pass this momentous benchmark? We invite you to make a donation today in support of our mission of peace and dialogue. ---------------------- 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.

Today, the USCCA honors the memory of Bishop Julius Jia Zhiguo of Zhengding, Hebei Province, China. Bishop Jia served in underground ministry for decades prior to the signing of the Provisional Agreement between the Holy See and the People's Republic of China. At 90 years old, he died on October 29, 2025, and was buried in his home village of Wuqiu, Jinzhou, Hebei Province, China. Photo from Agenzia Fides (license: CC-BY-4.0 ) For more opportunities to learn about the life of the Church in China, we invite you to read about our upcoming 30th International Conference . USCCA programs and news updates are made possible by supporters like you; even if you cannot participate directly, we ask that you please consider how you might contribute to our mission by way of our Annual Appeal . ---------------------- 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.

Today is the Feast Day of St. Peter Wu Guosheng (sometimes translated as "Peter Ou"), a Chinese hotel owner who remained faithful to the Gospel in his life and in his death. As Catholic News Agency reports, He was one of the first to convert to Christianity after missionaries arrived in his area, and he took the name Peter at his baptism. He enthusiastically preached Christianity to anyone who came by...He was sentenced to death for refusing to apostatize by stepping on a crucifix. St. Peter Wu Guosheng was born in 1768 and died in 1814. Below, you may find a painting from his era depicting a scene of domestic comfort. We invite you to imagine what it might have been like to stay as a guest in Peter's care. Garden Recreations (anonymous artist, ca. 18th–early 19th century) For more opportunities to learn about the history of the Church in China, we invite you to read about our upcoming 30th International Conference . USCCA programs like the Book Circle and International Conferences are made possible by supporters like you; even if you cannot participate directly, we ask that you please consider how you might contribute to our mission by way of our Annual Appeal . In service of our mission of mutual understanding, friends of the US-China Catholic Association are welcome and invited to share stories and reflections about history, theology, and the life of the Church in China. To submit your story, please email us at communications@uscatholicchina.org . ---------------------- 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.

Have you read the Call for Submissions for the upcoming 30th USCCA International Conference ? The conference will be held at the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas, on July 31–August 2, 2026. As Fr. Joseph Jianmin Bai remarked at our 29th conference (held in August 2024), faith and reason are complementary in the search for truth: In the mystery of the Incarnation, the Word of God does not replace or diminish human reason. He is fully God and, at the same time, a fully human being. Rather, he retains, confirms, and heals our reason. Through dialogue and growth in mutual understanding, we pray that the USCCA's International Conferences continue to provide avenues for faith and reason to build each other up. We invite you to subscribe to the US-China Catholic Association's YouTube channel  and email newsletter  for more conference quotes. We hope to see you at the upcoming 30th International Conference; even if you cannot participate directly, we ask that you please consider how you might contribute to our mission by way of our Annual Appeal . Thank you! ---------------------- 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 are glad to share that Dr. Brent Fulton, founder of ChinaSource, will be delivering a free public lecture on November 15 entitled "Continuity and Change in China's Religious Policy." Brent Fulton is the founder of ChinaSource, an international organization that serves as a trusted partner and platform for educating the global church on critical issues facing the church and ministries in China, and for connecting Christians inside and outside China to advance the kingdom of God globally. He is the author of China's Urban Christians: A Light That Cannot Be Hidden and co-authored China's Next Generation: New China, New Church, New World with Luis Bush. He holds M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in political science from the University of Southern California and a B.A. in radio-TV-film from Messiah College. Dr. Fulton's lecture will be held in the Calvin Room of First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley (2407 Dana Street, Berkeley, CA). A light meal with beverages will begin at 5pm; the lecture and Q&A are scheduled for 5pm–7:30pm, with the event closing at 8pm. Please click here to register as an attendee or to request a video recording of the event . For more information, please send inquiries to operations@errchina.org by November 13, 2025. For more opportunities to learn about theology, history, and the life of the Church in China, we invite you to read about our upcoming 30th International Conference . USCCA programs like the Book Circle and International Conferences are made possible by supporters like you; even if you cannot participate directly, we ask that you please consider how you might contribute to our mission by way of our Annual Appeal . ---------------------- The USCCA is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization. Your donations  are tax-deductible to the maximum extent allowed by law. The success of our work depends upon the generosity of people like you.

On November 8, 2025, the US-China Catholic Association will discuss the section entitled "Christianity: The Only Synthesis Really Possible Between East and West" (pp. 159–172) in John C. H. Wu's Chinese Humanism and Christian Spirituality . Image from Angelico Press In preparation for the discussion, Book Circle participants are invited to reflect upon the following discussion prompts, kindly provided by Book Circle facilitator Dr. Kathy Stout: 1) John Wu presents a series of impressionistic contrasts between cultures of the East and West on pages 161-163. Some of these contrasts are: rational vs. intuitive, fatalism vs. pride, Mary vs. Martha, male vs. female, active vs. contemplative. Do all these make sense to you? And in what ways?  2) Based on everything you have learned about Wu, how do you explain his conviction that the Incarnation of the Word of God is the only healing possible for the "unhealing wound in the soul of every Chinese," which is a lack of real synthesis between the moral teachings of Confucianism and the mystical transcendence of Daoism and Buddhism (p. 167-170)?  3) How does this chapter help you think about the work of evangelization in today's era of continuing globalization?  Chinese Humanism and Christian Spirituality is now available from Angelico Press  for 15% off with the discount code wu15 . If you have not yet joined us for a Book Circle discussion, please sign up for Book Circle email updates  today  and invite your friends to do the same! For in-person opportunities to learn about theology, history, and the life of the Church in China, we invite you to read about our upcoming 30th International Conference . USCCA programs like the Book Circle and International Conferences are made possible by supporters like you; even if you cannot participate directly, we ask that you please consider how you might contribute to our mission by way of our Annual Appeal . ---------------------- 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.

Have you read the Call for Submissions for the upcoming 30th USCCA International Conference ? The conference will be held at the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas, on July 31–August 2, 2026. The theme of our upcoming conference will be "Nourishing Trust and Friendship: Following the Way of Christ." As Catholic theologian and USCCA board member Dr. Kathy Stout (pictured above) noted during a presentation at our 29th conference (held in August 2024), the study of Chinese intellectual history can teach us that "China has beautiful things to offer to the West...not only to Western society, but also to the Church." We invite you to subscribe to the US-China Catholic Association's YouTube channel and email newsletter for more conference quotes. ---------------------- 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.