Search Results

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.

by Fr. John Li, priest from a northern diocese in China Xia Pi Village in Fu'an (福安) City was home to Chen Zidong (陈子东), who later became known as ‘China's First Virgin Flower’. At the age of 12, her parents betrothed her to the Zhao family in Xitian Village, Fu'an City. However, influenced by her Catholic mother, Chen was baptized as a child and vowed virginity. At 18, she formally pledged her virginity to God. However, her fiancé insisted on the engagement and even imprisoned her for seven months to force her to marry. Chen eventually returned to her parents' home and persuaded her father and entire family to become Catholics. From then on, she lived a life of chastity and asceticism at home. According to research by Sabine Sha in his "History of Christianity in China", the earliest practice of consecrated virginity in China was introduced by the Dominican Order to the Fu'an region of eastern Fujian. In fact, in Catholic tradition, the practice of virginity dates back to the Apostolic Age. From that time, and throughout medieval, modern, and contemporary Europe, women have vowed to dedicate themselves to the Kingdom of Heaven. Consecrated virgins in Catholicism are women who observe celibacy for the sake of the faith and values of the Kingdom of Heaven. Their primary difference from nuns is that consecrated virgins belong to a lay community of believers who only need to take vows of chastity (nuns, on the other hand, must take three vows). By the mid-18th century, religious chastity among Catholic women in Fujian Province had become a widespread practice. According to statistics, the number of consecrated virgins in Fu'an in 1759 was 250, but by 1890, the number had risen to over 1,000. Beyond Fujian, chastity became widespread in Sichuan, Guizhou, Hainan, Jiangnan, and northern Hubei provinces, all with the spread of Catholicism. Most consecrated virgins came from Catholic families, influenced by their family atmosphere and committed to chastity. Some came from wealthy families with family support, while others came from lower social classes and had to support themselves through their own labor. The ‘History of Missionaries in Jiangnan’ records the lifestyle of virgins in Shanghai and Hainan, most of whom worked as spinners. In an 1847 letter to his French sisters, a priest wrote: "Our virgins here are all self-reliant, generally living alone within their own family...Outwardly, they are no different from ordinary women, except that they are not required to wear overly flashy or elaborate clothing." Furthermore, some virgins would adopt orphans or foster children of relatives to provide for their later years. Some poorer virgins, lacking a stable source of income, even relied on the charity of their neighbors. Although these virgins, unlike nuns, lived at home and formed an informal women's organization, they did have their own rules and regulations. The "Rules of Virginity" were a set of rules and regulations that continued into the 20th century. These rules were primarily intended to protect the virgins' chastity and uphold the honor of Catholicism. The 25 Rules included a requirement that virgins must be at least 25 years old to take vows, live in their parents' home, and not leave the house without the permission of their parents and a priest. In their daily practice, these virgins were required to recite the Apostles' Creed, the Our Father, and the Hail Mary three times each. Beyond their personal integrity, these virgins played a positive role in the spread of Catholicism during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, particularly in missionary work with women and children, becoming missionaries' most effective assistants. Female catechists were a significant feature of the inculturation of Catholicism in China. Although most Chinese women were uneducated, they memorized prayers and used them to educate and nurture others. They also worked in girls' schools founded by missionaries and devoted their passion to various charitable causes, such as medical care and adopting abandoned children. Fr. François Esteve (1807-1848), a missionary in Shanghai in the mid-17th century, praised Chinese virgins: "These virgins perform their work silently and imperceptibly, like angels...These flowers bring great honor to the Church." In the history of Catholicism in China during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, virgins constituted a special group within the Chinese Catholic Church. Dedicated to serving the Church, they served as catechists, teachers, medical workers, and as caregivers for orphans in orphanages. They made tremendous contributions to the development of Catholicism in China. As Fr. François Esteve once praised them, they were indeed "beautiful angels." They bore witness to their faith with their lives, bringing Christ to the most vulnerable. The streets and alleys they walked were Christ's, and the fragile lives they touched were touched by Christ. Here, I dedicate this song, "Beautiful Angels," to them, and let us pray for the angels who serve silently in the church today. 美丽天使 Beautiful Angels 作词：李秋峰 作曲：金滇浙 她们抛弃红尘，拥抱内心的宁静， They abandon the mundane world, embracing inner peace. 她们摒弃虚荣，追求心灵的神圣， They reject vanity, pursuing the holiness of the soul. 她们不被世俗困扰，选择真善美的主， They are untroubled by worldly concerns, choosing the Lord of truth, goodness, and beauty. 她们心怀希望，追随光明的道路。 They embrace hope, following the path of light. 她们与天父同行，以青春颂主光荣， They walk with the Father, praising His glory with their youth. 她们与基督共舞，迎接美好的相逢， They dance with Christ, welcoming a beautiful encounter. 她们与十架为伴，守护心中的世盟， They keep the cross as their companion, safeguarding the covenant in their hearts. 她们与真理相拥，共同编织美好生命。 They embrace the truth, weaving together a beautiful life. 啊主，你是她们心灵的归属，Oh Lord, you are their spiritual home. 啊主，你是她们坚定的守护，Oh Lord, you are their steadfast guardian. 啊主，你钉痕双手指引方向，Oh Lord, your nail-scarred hands guide the way. 啊主，请带领美丽的天使踏上征途。Oh Lord, please lead these beautiful angels on their journey. Fr. John Li is a priest from a northern diocese in China. To respect confidentiality, names have been changed in this blog. 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.

by Tom McGuire, M.Div., M.R.E., USCCA Director Emeritus In early September, Fr. James Martin, S.J., interviewed Cardinal Stephen Chow, S.J., on his popular Spiritual Life Podcast. The interview was like two brothers sharing experiences. Fr. Jim asked questions, and Cardinal Stephen responded from his personal experiences, from his Chinese heritage and his Jesuit spirituality. Cardinal Stephen Chow, S.J. One theme in the interview that especially caught my attention was how Cardinal Stephen Chow described vocation as a relationship. He illustrated that his own vocation developed through deep friendships. Many of his responses were examples of the importance of relationships. His final comment about visiting and telling stories in an elementary school illustrated his deeply personal relationship with the least among us. Cardinal Stephen's pastoral way made me think of St. John Chrysostom, who said that if only a few of us truly made it our goal to make friends, there would be no limit to what we could accomplish. How? By loving others, whether they love us or not. The responses to the podcast were overwhelmingly positive. A friend of mine, Marilyn Kott, a returned Maryknoll Lay Missioner, gave a good summary of the responses. She wrote, “I found Cardinal Chow’s interview very moving – he was generous in sharing his experiences as a person with Catholic and Chinese roots. I particularly enjoyed his discussion and advice regarding discernment and Jesuit spirituality.” I invite you to spend a little time viewing the YouTube Interview : The USCCA was honored to have Cardinal Stephen Chow participate in our 29th International Conference, which was held in 2024. To learn about our upcoming 30th International Conference, scheduled July 31–August 2, 2026, I invite you to read our recently released Call for Submissions . Tom McGuire, M.Div, M.R.E. is a Director Emeritus of the USCCA. Tom has served as a Maryknoll Missionary in Hong Kong and as Director of Campus Ministry at University of Detroit Mercy. He is now retired, living in Chicago with his family. ---------------------- 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. Vincent de Paul (pictured in image), founder of the Congregation of the Mission (also called the "Vincentians"). St. Vincent died in 1660; less than 40 years later, Vincentian missionaries began their ministry in China. Today, the USCCA appreciates the leadership and gifts of two Vincentian members of the USCCA Board: Rev. Joseph Lin, CM, Ph.D. and Rev. Hugh O'Donnell, CM, Ph.D. To learn more about St. Vincent de Paul, we invite you to read the article about him in the Catholic Encyclopedia . ---------------------- 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 September 20, 2025, the US-China Catholic Association Book Circle gathered to discuss John C. H. Wu's meditations on St. Thérèse of Lisieux. This virtual discussion focused on the sections of Wu's Chinese Humanism and Christian Spirituality entitled "Thérèse and Céline" (pp. 127–141) and "The Science of Love" (pp. 203–226). Image from Angelico Press More than ten participants gathered virtually to reflect on Thérèse's exemplary faith, as well as the wisdom in her "Science of Love" as elaborated by John C. H. Wu: Sensitive, intuitive, paradoxical, humorous, subtle, flexible and ethereal, she did for spiritual life what some of the greatest minds have done in their own spheres of activity. (pp. 19–20) Among these aspects of Thérèse's personality described by Wu, the "intuitive" and the "paradoxical" were of particular interest during the course of Saturday's Book Circle discussion. Participants remarked on the paradoxical genius of simplicity in Thérèse's devotion to God, for example—a wisdom taught primarily through intuition rather than through rational explanation. Examples of such intuitive expression—of teaching virtue by example, through daily practice in the company of others—are found in Thérèse's relationships with her family: Her relationships with her sisters and her cousins apparently contributed meaningfully to her spiritual development, and she grew to serve as a positive influence on them, in turn, through her devotion to God as a Carmelite nun. Ultimately, Thérèse's life challenged Book Circle participants to recall intuitive encounters with the outstanding love of God in their own lives, and to consider how they might seek to follow her in the daily practice of love such that others might also learn of God's great love for humanity. Wu's reading of Thérèse, deeply informed by his interpretation of ancient Chinese sages like Lao Tzu, suggests that the attempt to live out such supernatural wisdom involves a level of rigor something like that of the scientist striving to discover the secrets of nature. How might the Science of Love taught by Jesus and emulated by Thérèse inform the conduct of our daily lives? The next Book Circle discussion will be held via Zoom 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" (pp. 147–157) 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! ---------------------- 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.

Earlier this month (September 11) was the Feast Day of St. John Gabriel Perboyre, C.M. (pictured in image). John Gabriel, a Vincentian missionary to China, served as a missionary in his home country of France prior to his ministry in China. In the midst of international conflict and political antagonism toward missionaries, John Gabriel was detained in 1839 and subjected to harsh treatment leading up to his death in 1840. We invite you to read more about St. John Gabriel Perboyre on the Holy See website . As the Holy See's biography recounts, John Gabriel built bridges between Europe and China, but hostility between the two regions had a frustrating effect on his mission. The US-China Catholic Association, founded in 1989 by missionary societies, is committed to building bridges of peace and mutual understanding between the people of the U.S. and 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.

Pope Leo XIV recently established a new diocese in China: the diocese of Zhangjiakou. Zhangjiakou (pictured below) is a city in China's Hebei Province. The creation of this new diocese coincides with the suppression of the nearby dioceses of Xuanhua and Xiwanzi; much of the territory of those two previous dioceses will now be included in the diocese of Zhangjiakou. The new Bishop of Zhangjiakou is Father Wang Zhengui, who has previously ministered in both Xuanhua and Xiwanzi. We invite you to read more about the establishment of this new diocese in Vatican News and America Magazine . For more discussions about the Church in China, we invite you to read about our upcoming 30th Biennial Conference , to be held in Austin, 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.

Since its founding by missionary societies in 1989, the US-China Catholic Association (USCCA) has worked through friendship and dialogue to build bridges of peace between the people of US and the people of China. As you read the  2025 Annual Appeal Letter  from our new Executive Director, Dr. Benjamin T. OuYang, we invite you to consider the ways in which supporters like you have made our mission possible over the years.  Our mission remains as urgent as ever, and the USCCA continues to promote dialogue through programs like Book Circle Discussions and Biennial Conferences (pictured above).  Will you  donate to the 2025 Annual Appeal  to help the USCCA in building bridges of friendship and understanding? Each and every gesture of support for our mission, financial or spiritual, is deeply appreciated. ---------------------- 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 announce that the Call for Submissions has been released for the US-China Catholic Association's 30th Biennial Conference, to be held July 31–August 2, 2026, at the University of St. Thomas in Houston, Texas. The theme of the 30th Biennial Conference will be "Nourishing Trust and Friendship: Following the Way of Christ." We invite you to read the full Call for Submissions at the conference page . To view videos from our last conference, we invite you to navigate to our YouTube channel , where several past conference presentations are available to the public. ---------------------- 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.