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By Dr. Michel Chambon, cultural anthropologist, theologian, and Catholic minister In a small city in northern Fujian, where I’ve been studying Christian communities for more than a decade, the main church — once a Methodist mission — is home to a large association of elderly folks. Every Thursday morning, more than 200 retirees gather in the church for a time of fellowship and prayer. Despite their fragile health and modest means, these seniors love coming together — to sing, stretch, chat, and enjoy each other's company. But Thursdays are also when they sign up for the funerals happening that week. Arrival of a Christian Funeral Procession Every week, a group of them will attend the funeral of a Christian acquaintance. On the day of the cremation, their association arranges for one or two buses from the municipality, making it easy for about fifty senior volunteers to travel to the crematorium. And once there, the group has a well-practiced rhythm. After letting the family know they're present, the seniors line up two by two behind the grieving relatives, who themselves follow the portrait of the deceased, carried in a small procession. Ten or so paper funeral wreaths are brought out, and other seniors change into their outfits and pull out drums and trumpets to form a modest marching band. What starts as a small family gathering of ten or twenty people quickly grows into a musical procession of more than eighty, making its way toward the funeral parlor. Inside, a representative from the Christian group gently offers to help with songs and eulogies. Surprised by these unexpected guests, the family, in gratitude for their presence, feels a sense of release from the deceased loved one. For the next thirty minutes, the elderly Christians sing at the top of their lungs and take turns sharing heartfelt words about the departed. Then, one by one, each person steps forward to pay their respects to the deceased in their coffin and to the family before heading back to the bus. Each Person Pays Respect to the Deceased Though the appearance of these elderly Christians is brief, it leaves a deep impression on the family. For the children and grandchildren who may have, in many ways, left their elder behind, it comes as a shock to realize that their grandmother had a whole circle of Christian brothers and sisters who cared about her. Often, they didn’t even know she was a believer. And even if they had heard something about it, they had never felt the weight or warmth of what it truly meant. For some, this prayerful visit by elderly Christians at their grandmother’s funeral will return to them years, even decades later, when they themselves begin to wonder about the meaning of life. In some cases, that memory becomes a path, a way back toward the Christian faith, something like a family treasure they now long to uncover. A way to answer questions, soften a difficult season, or calm an aching heart. As Christians around the world pray for the souls of the departed, the quiet witness of these elderly Chinese believers gives us something to ponder. As a group, humble and unassuming, they come to pray with a particular soul and that soul’s family. They don't preach. They don’t give grand speeches about the resurrection. They simply show up, visible, tangible, and joyful, but also as a peaceful, loving presence. And sometimes, that quiet, fleeting appearance plants something deeper than words. Something no one can control, yet something that opens the door to faith. Dr. Michel Chambon is a cultural anthropologist, a theologian and a Catholic minister specialized in the study of contemporary forms of Chinese Christianity. As a Research Fellow at the National University of Singapore, he is one of the coordinators of ISAC—the Initiative for the Study of Asian Catholics. 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.

Today is the Feast Day of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles, also known as Simon the Zealot and Thaddeus (respectively). Contemporaries of Jesus, these apostles spread the Gospel in Persia and the surrounding area, making them two of the earliest Christian missionaries in Asia. As EWTN reports, "These guardians of hope and zeal take on an even greater significance as we approach the Jubilee 2025." We invite you to learn more in their video on Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles: 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.

In news from the Church in China, a new Auxiliary Bishop of Shanghai was consecrated on October 15, 2025. Rev. Ignatius Wu Jianlin, who has served the church in pastoral and administrative roles since his 1997 ordination, was appointed by Pope Leo XIV on August 11, 2025. Shanghai, China As Vatican News reports , Bishop Jianlin's ordination was approved "within the framework of the Provisional Agreement between the Holy See and the People’s Republic of China. We invite you to read more at Agenzia Fides . 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 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.

October 19 and October 20 marked celebrations of the Feast Day of St. Paul of the Cross, the founder of the religious order known as the Congregation of the Passion (also known as the Passionists, abbreviated as "CP"). As the University of Notre Dame's FaithND reports , When he was 26 years old, Paul experienced a vision during prayer in which he heard God calling him to establish a new religious community dedicated to Jesus’ passion. In the vision, he saw himself clothed in the habit that his community would wear: a long, black robe with a white symbol stitched in the center—a white cross above a white heart that held the words, “passion of Jesus Christ.” The new community was grounded in poverty and solitude and had a mission to encourage people to meditate on the suffering and death of Jesus. The Feast Day of St. Paul of the Cross is celebrated on October 19 in most countries; in the U.S., it is celebrated on October 20. To learn more about the history of the Passionists and their history of missionary work in China, we invite you to visit the Passionist Historical Archives website . 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.

On October 18, 2025, the US-China Catholic Association Book Circle gathered to discuss the section entitled "Technology and Christian Culture: An Oriental View" (p. 147–157) in John C. H. Wu's Chinese Humanism and Christian Spirituality . More than fifteen participants gathered for this virtual discussion of Eastern and Western approaches to technology and humanism. Image from Angelico Press Writing more than 60 years ago, Wu observed distinct approaches to technology in Eastern and Western cultures, each of which might inform Christian ways of living: My own observation is that the Western mind...is capable of pursuing knowledge for the sake of knowledge, of isolating the means from the end and studying intensely its nature and structure as though it were really independent of the end. In this way it comes to know more potentialities of the means than it would be possible to know if the end were always kept in view. In the Oriental mind, the end seems to dominate. To it, knowledge must minister to Wisdom, so that to pursue knowledge for its own sake would seem to be sheer insanity...The question for us Christians is how does our profession contribute to our sanctification, or more plainly, how can we make our profession a special means and mode of expressing our love of God and neighbor? (p. 153) Book Circle participants also remarked on Chinese technological advances before and since the time in which Wu was writing; from the invention of gunpowder to modern infrastructure projects, the history of Chinese technology and its applications attests to the potential compatibility and mutual reinforcement of knowledge and wisdom. Through the course of the conversation, participants brought further technology-related insights gathered from other writers such as Dan Wang , Ananda Coomaraswamy , and Joseph Needham . These modern perspectives were complemented by reflections on the Chinese sages from whom Wu himself drew great inspiration. As the discussion concluded, participants reflected on chapter 80 of the Daodejing , which paints an idyllic image of a small happy community that prefers simplicity to the sophistications of technology. "Peach Blossom Spring," by Ming dynasty artist Qiu Ying, portrays a peaceful community. We invite you to read more in the Baidu Encyclopedia article on Section 80 of the Daodejing . The next Book Circle discussion will be held via Zoom on November 8, 2025, at 6 AM PT / 7 AM MT / 8 AM CT / 9 AM ET / 10 PM China Standard Time. We will be discussing 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 , which is currently 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.

John C. H. Wu was a jurist and scholar whose life spanned a remark-able period in the history of China and it relationship with the West. ​ In a lecture sponsored by the China Association and given at Santa Clara University in April 2019, Professor Robert Gimello spoke about the contributions of this ambassador between cultures and traditions. ​ Vincent Wu, grandson of John C. H. Wu, and Managing Director of the John C. H. Wu Institute , joined the event. Prof. Gimello's talk and an overview of the insightful writings of Wu may be found below. The dao In Chinese thought the Dao is the inner principle of all things, present in all but transcending each and every. In the Gospel of John, the Logos is the Word, spoken by God, by which God constitutes all that is. What do these lines of thought have to do with one another? Is one right and the other wrong? Are they saying the same thing but with different imagery? ​ In his day, renaissance scholar John C.H. Wu was able to explore the underlying points of contact between Chinese and Western spirituality, as well as the differences that allowed one to illuminate the other. A great figure of twentieth century thought during an important period of encounter between China and the West, his insights continue to inspire us today. In his reflections on John Wu, famed international scholar Robert Gimello provides an introduction to his life and work. More, in a day when many increasingly find differences threatening and divisive, Gimello draws on John Wu to show what Christians can learn from Chinese thought. Rather than difference being a threat, it can open up new perspectives within one’s own tradition. About John C.H. Wu (吳經熊) Born in 1899, during the last years of the Qing Dynasty, John C. H. Wu (吳經熊) is best known as the principle author of the Constitution of the Republic of China. A convert to Catholicism, he also served as China’s first ambassador to the Holy See. Wu translated one of the most famous and challenging of Chinese philosophical works, the Dao De Jing, and provided commentary to make it accessible for a Western audience. He also wrote about the spirituality of Therese of Lisieux, as well as the convergences between Chinese and Western spirituality. A true renaissance man, John C. H. Wu’s life and thought spanned whole eras and cultures. About Robert Gimello Robert M. Gimello is Professor Emeritus of Theology at the University of Notre Dame, and a Fellow of the Liu Institute for Asia & Asian Studies. Most known for his study of medieval and early modern Buddhist thought, Gimello’s contributions have informed Catholic theological perspectives on Buddhism. He has taught at Harvard University, Dartmouth, the University of Arizona, UC Santa Barbara, and even several Buddhist universities abroad. When Professor Gimello was an undergrad at Seton Hall University, he was a student of John C. H. Wu. In regard to giving this talk, Professor Gimello writes, John Wu “was for me a crucial formative influence on my development as a scholar, a model of Chinese learning, and an inspiring example of the ways in which learned respect for Asian thought and religion can be combined with faith in Christ. My debt to Wu cannot really be repaid, but I am glad of the chance to make at least a gesture in that direction by offering a lecture in your new series.” The Presentation lected Works by John C. H. Wu (吴经熊) Beyond East and West (1951, new edition 2018) This is John C. H. Wu’s spiritual autobiography. It describes his conversion in 1937 and early years as a Catholic. Upon its publication, it became an instant bestseller, compared to Thomas Merton’s Seven Storey Mountain and even the Confessions of Augustine. Beyond East and West reveals the development of Wu’s 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. Profound, thoughtful, and beautifully written, this book offers nourishment for those travel paths of spirituality in a our contemporary, multicultural world. The 2018 edition includes a foreword written by Wu’s son John Wu, Jr. Chinese Humanism and Christian Spirituality (1965, new edition 2017) In the essays collected here, John C. H. Wu (1899-1986), the prominent 20th-century scholar of both Chinese and western law, philosophy, literature, and spirituality, illustrates with striking originality the harmonious synthesis of Chinese humanism (especially the wisdom of the ancient sages) with Christian spirituality as articulated in the Bible and the writings of the saints, mystics, and such modern spiritual writers as Therese of Lisieux. They display the depth and breadth of Wu's thought, which led him to the conclusion that the wisdom in all of China's traditions--especially Confucian thought, Taoism, and Buddhism--points to universal truths that originate from, and are fulfilled in, Christ, and that the "marriage" of the East and the West in Christ is the key to a future concordant understanding. The Four Seasons of Tang Poetry (1972) "Stretching out my hand I feel the pulse of the stars," wrote Li Po, one of the most famous of the T'ang dynasty poets. This superlative study of the Golden Age of Chinese poetry, based on nearly 50,000 poems written by more than 2,000 poets, captures not only the pulse of that period but also the spirit and soul. Of this Tang blossoming, Dr. Wu says that for nearly thirteen centuries after Christ, poetry in Europe, with the exception of Juvenal, kept a death–like silence. It hibernated so long that when it woke up again in the person of Dante, the last poetic voice it could remember was that Virgil. It seems though Mother Earth purposely rocked Europe to sleep for some time that she might teach Asia to sing. Golden Age Of Zen: Zen Masters Of The T'ang Dynasty (1975) This book gives a fascinating survey of the early years of Chinese Zen (Chan) Buddhism, staying focused on the movement of Buddhism to the land where Taoism and Confucianism flourished. Wu's survey, combined with interesting translations from these earliest Zen masters, reveals a time of spiritual vibrancy and powerful personalities that help explain the later developments of Zen with which western readers are more familiar. The Interior Carmel: The Threefold Way of Love (1954) Upon his conversion to Christianity early in his life, John C. H. Wu found the writings of Saint Therese of Lisieux and her "little way of love" a profound source of inspiration. In this volume he takes up the three-fold path of Carmelite spirituality in a lucid and inviting way. Wu holds out the way for growth in sanctity for the ordinary person in the midst of life. This work is a gem, currently out of print. However, the Dr. John C. H. Wu Institute is working to publish a new edition in the near future. Tao Teh Ching (1961, reissued 2006) This spiritual and philosophical classic, written centuries before the birth of Christ, and attributed to the sage Lao Tzu (Lao Zi) teaches the way of inner peace and authenticity. In our day, Lao Tzu’s words are as useful in mastering the arts of leadership in business and politics as they are in developing a sense of balance and harmony in everyday life. To follow the Tao or Way of all things and realize their true nature is to embody humility, spontaneity, and generosity. John C. H. Wu’s translation of the Tao Teh Ching (Dao De Jing) renders a subtle and difficult text accessible for a contemporary Western audience. Merton & the Tao: Dialogues with John Wu and the Ancient Sages (2013) In addition to critical essays that explore the harvest of new insights provoked by Merton’s encounters with the ancient sages, Merton; the Tao presents the complete and carefully annotated correspondence between Thomas Merton and John C. H. Wu. Though Merton and Wu only met once, through their correspondence as fellow Christians, poets, and spiritual thinkers they were able to collaborate on a remarkable “rendering” of the Daoist classic The Way of Chuang Tzu into English and into the context of the 20th century. This study of world religions through the lens of Thomas Merton’s inclusive religious interests presents his timeless vision of all persons united in a hidden ground of love. And it reflects the mentoring of John Wu, who was perhaps the most important influence on Merton’s understanding of Eastern spirituality. Dr. John C. H. Wu Institute & Archives The heirs of Dr. John C. H. Wu have established an institute in his memory to promote the republication of his works. For more information or to offer your support, please contact Mr. Vincent Wu, Managing Director, at vlwujr@comcast.net . For information about the John C.H. Wu Archive hosted at Seton Hall University, please visit the SHU blog > Seton Hall University also hosted a symposium on the legacy of John C. H. Wu. You can find more information here >

With the approaching holiday season come opportunities for gift-giving. Have you considered the gift of an artist's perspective of the life of the Church in China? Such is Lu Nan's On the Road , a book of photographs documenting the lives of Chinese Christians from over 100 churches. Photo from Ignatius Press On the Road is now available for purchase from Ignatius Press . We invite you—our supporters—to use the discount code USCCAOnTheRoad20 for a 20% discount on your purchase. For more opportunities to learn about the Church in China, we invite you to join us for our upcoming 30th International Conference . Even if you can't make it to our conference, we invite you to support our efforts of dialogue and mutual understanding through a gift in support of our mission . ---------------------- 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.

About a month ago, Dr. Benjamin T. OuYang—in partnership with the Board of Directors—published the US-China Catholic Association's Annual Appeal letter for 2025 . In that letter, Dr. OuYang introduced himself as the USCCA's new Executive Director and outlined some of our upcoming opportunities to get involved, such as the Book Circle and 30th International Conference . Dr. OuYang (pictured below) also invited our community of supporters to contribute financially to the mission of the USCCA. Dr. Benjamin T. OuYang We are grateful for the stream of support which has flowed toward the USCCA's mission in the weeks that have followed the Annual Appeal's publication. So far, we have raised 27% of our target amount of $100,000 for the year! This is a significant accomplishment on the part of supporters like you. Nonetheless, we intend to reach our goal of $100,000 in order to continue in our mission of bridge-building, and that means that we are just getting started! We invite you to play a part in this fundraising effort by spreading the word about the USCCA to your friends, family, and colleagues. Everyone can benefit from a world where the people of the U.S. and the people of China learn together in peace, friendship, and dialogue. Any gifts of support to the USCCA—big or small—are deeply appreciated. In celebration of our crossing the 25% mark towards our goal, we invite you to make a donation today . ---------------------- 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.

Upon reading Pope Leo XIV's recent exhortation, 'Dilexit te,' we are reminded of the importance of the corporal works of mercy as a ministry of the global Church: feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, sheltering the homeless, visiting the sick, visiting the imprisoned, and burying the dead. To learn about how the Church in China helps make social services such as these available to the people of God, we invite you to watch these videos on the topic from our 2024 International Conference: Social Services in Rural and Urban China Social Service Outreach in China Panelists in session on "Social Service Outreach in China." From left: Dr. Georges Enderle, Dr. Brent Fulton, Andrea Lee, and Tom McGuire In one memorable segment of the session on "Social Services in Rural and Urban China," Dr. John Worthley recounts Mother Teresa's visit to Shanghai in 1993: Bishop Jin brought us to his basilica in Sheshan, and when we approached, on the top of the basilica—as you may know—is a very unique image of the Blessed Mother holding the baby Jesus over her head for the world to see...When Mother saw that, it pierced her heart. The Holy Spirit just struck her—you could see it on her face—because her mantra had always been "to Jesus, through Mary," and that statue, artistically, was her prayer. And so she asked Bishop Jin for a statue of Our Lady of Sheshan. He gave us one. She put it in the pocket of her saree. It never left her side. To learn more about the life of the Church in China, we invite you to read about our upcoming 30th International Conference . Conferences are made possible by supporters like you; please consider donating to our Annual Appeal campaign so that we might continue to foster peace, friendship, and mutual understanding among the people of the U.S. and the people of China. ---------------------- 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.

The next USCCA Book Circle discussion will be held virtually on October 18, 2025, at 6 AM PT / 7 AM MT / 8 AM CT / 9 AM ET / 9 PM China Standard Time. We will be discussing the section entitled "Technology and Christian Culture: An Oriental View" (p. 147–157) in John C. H. Wu's Chinese Humanism and Christian Spirituality , which is currently available from Angelico Press  at 15% off with the discount code wu15 . Image from Angelico Press Book Circle participants are invited to consider the following discussion prompts, shared by Book Circle facilitator Dr. Kathy Stout: For our next meeting, we will read the chapter titled "Technology and Christian Culture: An Oriental View" (pp.147–157). This is a timely piece as we are currently on the cusp of another technological revolution via AI. Please consider the following questions as you read: 1) Wu begins the chapter by describing the difference between the Eastern and Western mindsets on technology. Based on your observation on what is going on in different parts of the world, would you say that the difference still holds? Do China and the US, for instance, approach technology in different ways? 2) The tension between technology and Christian culture is ultimately a tension between our other-worldly aspirations and this-worldly obligations. Have you experienced or observed such a tension in your own professional life? 3) Does this chapter offer some inspiration as we continue to wrestle with the challenge of AI? If you have not yet joined us for a virtual 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.

The Hospital Sisters of St. Francis, women who have dedicated their lives to Jesus and to the Church, have extended an invitation to celebrate the 100th anniversary of St. Joseph's Hospital. This hospital, a Franciscan mission, was established in 1925 in Jinan, a city in China's Shandong province. Photo from the Hospital Sisters Archives In the image above, we invite you to meet the original group of Sisters who served at this Franciscan mission in China. Standing in the back row are Sister Engelberta Beyer, OSF; Sister Euphrosine Fischer, OSF; and Sister Octavia Doernemann, OSF. The Sisters seated in front are Sister Evangelista Sanders, OSF and Sister Wilhelma Broeskamp, OSF (Superior). The 100th anniversary of St. Joseph's Hospital will be celebrated on October 11, 2025, at the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis, 4849 LaVerna Road, in Springfield, Illinois. For more information and to RSVP, contact the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis . This event is being hosted by Sister Maureen O’Connor, Superior, and Sister Pacis Bao, OSF. The USCCA extends its thanks to the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis for this invitation to celebrate the anniversary of their mission. To learn more about the history of the Church in China, we invite you to join us for our 30th International Conference , to be held in Houston, Texas, on July 31–August 2, 2026. To learn about how you can support our mission of dialogue and mutual understanding, we invite you to donate via 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.

From the bottom of our hearts, US-China Catholic Association wishes you a joyous Mid-Autumn Festival! A Chinese holiday also known as the Moon Festival or Mooncake Festival, the Mid-Autumn Festival presents an opportunity to celebrate the harvest season. Lanterns and mooncakes are a couple of the traditional symbols of this seasonal celebration. Today is also the birthday of Venerable Matteo Ricci (1552–1610), founder of Catholic missions in China. We invite you to read about his contributions to the Church in our blog post on the legacy of Matteo Ricci . To learn more about Chinese culture, history, and the life of the Church in China, we invite you to join us for our 30th International Conference , to be held in Houston, Texas, on July 31–August 2, 2026. ---------------------- 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.