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Book available from Angelico Press On May 24, the USCCA Book Circle discussed pages 77–90 of John C. H. Wu's book, Chinese Humanism and Christian Spirituality . This was the latter part of Wu's chapter entitled "The Wisdom of Chuang Tzu: A New Appraisal." Wu's philosophical exploration of Chuang Tzu (also translated as Zhuangzi or Zhuang Zhou ), the sage of ancient Taoism, challenged Book Circle participants to consider the limits of technology, language, and even ethical practice as distinct from one's ultimate purpose: For [Chuang Tzu], the ultimate end of man is to be united with the Tao; he looked at moral virtues, such as humanity and justice, as a necessary stage toward this end. (p. 77) Book Circle participants drew connections between Christian thought and Chuang Tzu's emphasis on union with the Tao, wherein virtues "are no longer practiced as onerous duties imposed on you by an external authority or as a categorical imperative, and in performing them you will feel no sense of being virtuous, but only a deep joy" (p. 77). Participants also wrestled with Chuang Tzu's ambivalent attitudes toward technology and civilization in general: Chuang Tzu "called a halt to all arts of civilization" (p. 81), but later writings described by Wu indicated that "the true man of the Tao would use the instruments [of technology] as others do without being attached to them" (p. 83). Book Circle participants found this discussion particularly thought-provoking for a time such as ours, where new developments in artificial intelligence are emerging every month. This meeting was the last Book Circle discussion of the Spring 2025 semester, and we look forward to re-convening in Fall 2025. If you are interested in receiving email updates about the USCCA Book Circle, we invite you to fill out the Book Circle interest form ! Also, please note that in Fall 2025 we will continue reading John C. H. Wu's book, Chinese Humanism and Christian Spirituality . With the discount code wu15 , you may purchase the book from Angelico Press at a 15% discount. We extend our heartfelt thanks to our supporters for making the USCCA Book Circle Discussions possible. Building on their generosity, we invite you to contribute your own gift . Your donation will help sustain the vital work of fostering understanding between the U.S. and China through shared learning 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.

The US-China Catholic Association (USCCA) recognizes Cardinal Blase Cupich's leadership and his support in building bridges of friendship and dialogue, particularly between Chinese and American communities. We congratulate Cardinal Cupich on the 50th anniversary of his priestly ordination, which was recognized during a celebratory Mass on August 16. The Archbishop's anniversary was highlighted in such media channels as CBS News , ABC 7 Eyewitness News , and Chicago's WGN 9 . We invite you to read Cardinal Cupich's homily from that celebratory Mass at the Archdiocese of Chicago website . Cardinal Blase Cupich The USCCA remains grateful to Cardinal Cupich for his contributions as an Honored Guest of the 29th USCCA International Conference , which was held in Chicago in August of 2024. For more information about USCCA conferences, including our upcoming 30th International Conference , we invite you to sign up for email updates from the USCCA . ---------------------- 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.

Are you a scholar of International Relations, Political Theory, Political Philosophy, Sociology, Anthropology, Religious Studies or Theology? If so, then we invite you to read more about an upcoming online workshop on Asian Catholics in International Relations ! Photo from Unsplash The workshop's description reads as follows: As Asia becomes an increasingly critical region for both global geopolitics and the future of the Catholic Church, this workshop will examine how Asian Catholics—both laypeople and ordained ministers—are contributing to and shaping international relations in Asia and beyond. This workshop will be hosted by Initiative for the Study of Asian Catholics (ISAC); proposals are due on August 15, 2025 . ---------------------- 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 Pilgrimage is not just about going somewhere, but about meeting God and oneself again. Pilgrimage is familiar to Catholics, and its origin can even be traced back to the earliest centuries of the Catholic Church. The etymology of the word "pilgrimage" is profound, and its meaning has hardly changed. The word comes from the Latin per ager , which means "through the field," and another meaning is "across the border." In the Bible, Abraham was a pilgrim because he "left his country, his family and his father's house" (Gen. 12:1). Jacob was a pilgrim; he knew with faith that "this is the dwelling place of God, the gate of heaven" (Gen. 28:17). Moses was a pilgrim; he saw with wonder the flames of fire on a bush that did not burn, and heard God's call to him in the wilderness (cf. Ex. 3:2-4). Former Pope Francis encouraged people to be "pilgrims of hope" during the Jubilee Year of 2025; he said, "In this year, we must rediscover the priceless treasure of heart-to-heart dialogue with God, and thus become pilgrims of hope." The Pope also emphasized that pilgrims are "people on the journey" and always have the desire to move forward. Here, I would also like to share my two pilgrimage experiences, because the pilgrimage journey has changed my existence and led me to discover God on the road. The first pilgrimage was in 2009 - that year was the Year of Priests, promulgated by the universal Church. In response to the Pope's call to pray for priests, our pilgrimage group, after several days of material and spiritual preparation, embarked on the pilgrimage journey on July 19, 2009, for the sanctification of priests. We set out on bicycles from Hebei Province, passing through 18 Catholic churches in southern Hebei, Henan, Anhui and Jiangsu provinces, and 22 counties and cities in the heat, wind and rain, resulting in exhaustion and hunger. We arrived at our destination, Sheshan Holy Land in Shanghai, at 6 pm on August 1. The entire journey lasted 25 days, a total of 2,250 kilometers, and 122 hours of cycling. During the journey, Father Liu, the leader of the team, said that he saw that many local churches were developing slowly, and some were declining. The current situation was not optimistic. There was a serious shortage of priests and nuns, and the faithful were like sheep without a shepherd, scattered everywhere, lacking the proper pastoral care. Our group said that through this pilgrimage, we benefited a lot. Not only did we increase our understanding of the church and know the urgent needs of the faithful, but we also increased our enthusiasm for God and the church, and we became more determined to follow God on the path of our priestly vocation. The second pilgrimage was in 2012, which was the Year of Faith promulgated by the Church. In order to deeply experience the true faith, my friend and I set out from the Bishop's Palace of Liaoning Diocese on July 8, with the blessings and expectations of priests and brothers and sisters, and embarked on a pilgrimage journey - the destination was Taiyuan, Shanxi. It took us 14 days, visiting 12 churches in southern Liaoning and Hebei provinces. In the wind and rain, we passed through 14 counties and cities and arrived at our destination on the morning of July 21. The entire journey included a total of about 1,162 kilometers, with the cycling time being about 120 hours. Along the way, we felt faith because we touched her - we searched for her in the bitter sweat, lived her with boiling blood, and witnessed her in young lives. Faith is not used to explain life, but to carry life, so that we can go further and go deeper - this is the courage that faith gives to life. On the pilgrimage, I thought we would have a lot of topics to talk about along the way. But there were few opportunities in the fast cycling, and the invasion of fatigue made us unable to speak. Only when we slowed down could we chat for a few words about each other's views and understanding of various things. We were silent most of the time on the road, and we have slowly learned silence, learned to experience and enjoy it. In silence, we pray sincerely. When tired, every time we pedaled the bikes, pedaling with all our strength, we dedicated the effort to a specific intention. Repeat again and again... Facing the hilly areas of Anhui, every time we saw a big slope, we were happy and worried. The joy was that we didn’t have to pedal going down, and the worry was the great difficulty placed before us going up. In silence, we reflected on ourselves and came to know ourselves. In silence, we tasted the real ups and downs in life, the true love and warmth of the world, and more importantly, we experienced the loving companionship of God. God is always by our side and always watching over us. On the pilgrimage, God encouraged us with different images, different ways, and different words. The most common phrase we heard was: "Have a good trip." The most common action we saw was people giving us a thumbs-up. The most honest faces we saw were full of smiles. Many times, people's eyes expressed their wishes for us. Many people were witnesses of God's love, the elderly, children, women...Their actions gave us great comfort. On the pilgrimage, we learned to put down our maps. We brought atlases on the road, and we also had maps copied from the computer. The purpose was to point out the approximate direction so that we could find a way and plan the route and itinerary before setting off. It can be said that most of the roads were within our understanding, but there were always more unknowns than knowns. Sometimes, God arranges to let us walk out of our own "map" and onto the road he has arranged for us. Pilgrimage is not just a long road with one step and one kneeling, but also the direction for the soul to go home. Offering is not just a gift in your hand, but also the most sincere love in your heart. Pilgrimage is every approach; it is every giving; it is every offering. Chinese with English Translation of the Sacred Song of Our Pilgrimage 献上（Title） Dedication （Title） （Verse1） 我献上，我的满目疮痍---- I offer, my wounded body 我献上，我的痛哭流涕---- I offer, my tears 我献上，我的支离破碎---- I offer, my broken pieces 我献上，我的奄奄一息---- I offer, my dying breath （Verse2） 我主啊，请圣化我的五内---- My Lord, please sanctify my heart 我主啊，请治愈我的伤悲---- My Lord, please heal my sorrow 我主啊，请垂顾我的疲惫---- My Lord, please look upon my fatigue 我主啊，请收纳我的颓废---- My Lord, please accept my decadence （Chorus） 献上，我献上，我的是是非非---- I offer, I offer, my right and wrong 献上，我献上，我受伤的花蕊---- I offer, I offer, my wounded stamen 献上，我献上，我生命的卑微---- I offer, I offer, the humbleness of my life 献上，我献上，我干涸的爵杯---- I offer, I offer, my dry cup Fr. John Li is a priest from a northern diocese in China. To respect confidentiality, names have been changed in this blog. ---------------------- 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 July 31, 2025, Dr. Stephanie Wong delivered a Free Virtual Public Lecture on the topic of "Christian-Confucian Dialogue in the Contemporary World." Drawing upon her work with two efforts of the Vatican's Dicastery of Interreligious Dialogue — the international "Women Building a Culture of Encounter Inter-religiously" network, and a project drafting a guidebook on Christian-Confucian relations — Dr. Wong shared insights on the prospects for Christian-Confucian Dialogue at the intersections of the academy and the Church. She spoke to the way that assessments of Confucianism as a religious, philosophical, ethical, or cultural tradition continue to inform and puzzle dialogue efforts, as these categories are institutionalized differently both state and church governments. She also highlighted the importance of a spirit of friendship and curiosity in navigating questions of ecumenical diversity and women's roles, as Christian and Confucian communities may hold stereotypes about the other and have limited knowledge about the other community's internal diversity and debates. During the Q&A session afterward, Dr. Wong answered questions from the audience, exploring in more detail the different ways in which Christian-Confucian dialogue has developed in different geographical locations and historical moments. For more research from Dr. Wong, we invite you to keep an eye out for her upcoming book on the early twentieth-century indigenization movement, Making Catholicism Chinese: The Catholic Church in Modernizing China (forthcoming with Oxford Univeristy Press, December 2025). ---------------------- 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 attended any of the USCCA's previous International Conferences? At our last conference—the 29th USCCA International Conference—we celebrated 35 years of the USCCA! You can find media from that conference on the Conference 29 web page . Videos from our 29th and 30th International Conferences are also viewable on the USCCA YouTube channel . We are glad to share that the 30th USCCA International Conference will be held from July 31–August 2, 2026, at the University of St. Thomas in Houston, TX. The Conference Theme will be Nourishing Trust and Friendship: Following the Way of Christ . We invite you to mark this day on your calendars, and to subscribe to the USCCA's email newsletter for the latest conference updates . Chapel of St. Basil, University of St. Thomas ---------------------- 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.

Dr. He Simeiqi, a Catholic moral theologian and social worker from mainland China, has shared the paper she recently delivered at the annual convention of the Catholic Theological Society of America. In her paper, Dr. He re-envisions the meaning of baptism in conversation with such thinkers as Pierre Teilhard de Chardin and Fang Dongmei. We invite you to read her paper by clicking here . Click here to read Dr. He's paper He Simeiqi, Ph.D., LMSW is a Catholic moral theologian and a social worker from mainland China. Her writings have previously appeared in Journal of Moral Theology , International Journal of Catholic Studies , Catholic Theological Review , Asian Horizons , and U.S. Catholic . ---------------------- 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 signed up yet for Dr Stephanie Wong's free virtual public lecture on "Christian-Confucian Dialogue in the Contemporary World"? This lecture is just a week away! Dr. Wong is an Assistant Professor of Comparative Theology, East Asian Religions, Systematic and Constructive Theology at Villanova University. Her presentation will be available via video webinar at 7pm ET on July 31, 2025. We look forward to learning with you! Click here to sign up for this free public lecture, accessible via live video . ---------------------- 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.

As recounted in a recent Catholic News Agency report , Pope Leo XIV recently said that "A pilgrimage has a vital part to play in our life of faith for it removes us from our homes and our daily routines and gives us time and space to encounter God more deeply." Have you ever experienced a deepening of faith as a result of travel or pilgrimage? Did it help you understand and connect with friends in the global 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.

Chiaretto Yan, USCCA contributor and theologian, has shared a slides with us from his recent scholarly presentation, "Chinese Wisdom and Christian Faith: On Harmony." We invite you to view these slides as education and meditation on the connection between Christian faith and Chinese wisdom: Click here to download Prof. Yan's presentation Chiaretto Yan is a lay Catholic theologian and a seminary professor in China. His upcoming book, My Chinese Dream: Dialogues and Encounters with Christianity , is currently available for pre-order. ---------------------- 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 Praise Him with the trumpet, praise Him with the harp, Praise Him with tambourine and dance, Praise Him with strings and flutes, Praise Him with loud cymbals, Praise Him with clanging cymbals. (Psalm 150:3–5) This is a moving passage in the Old Testament, which conveys the story of praising God. People have been singing God’s praises with music for centuries. The sacred music of the Catholic Church comes from the faith life of God's people, and its Biblical purpose is to praise the God of Israel. In ancient times, the Jews praised God through music in their prayers; today, sacred music also helps God's people to pray. A musician said, "It is not easy to give an accurate definition of sacred music, because the definition or concept of an era often generalizes. The definition of Gregorian sacred music does not conform to the definition of sacred music in other musical forms, and the application and creation of modern sacred music are different from the type of Gregorian sacred music." Therefore, the form of sacred music will be diverse because it is not an end but a tool or method. Through sacred music, people's souls are moved, the faith of believers is more lively, and they can actively enter into prayer and talk with the Lord. After the Second Vatican Council, the Church encouraged the celebration of Mass in different languages; the mother tongue of people in modern sacred music encourages believers to participate more actively in the liturgy. The Council pointed out, "Popular religious songs should also be promoted so that in the zealous good works, even in the liturgical behavior, according to the principles and laws of the liturgy, the singing of believers can be heard." I think modern sacred music holds such a possibility. Contemporary sacred music is a modern believer’s voice expressing a long-cherished wish to praise God in the form of music. When observing the current situation of Catholic sacred music in the Chinese language, we can see that Catholic classical sacred music—for example, Gregorian Chant—is gradually losing status among faithful Catholics, especially the young. There are many factors at work. In contrast, modern music has developed greatly in recent years. At the same time, in the Chinese Catholic Church, some young believers have begun to use their musical talents to create some sacred music of their own. They integrate their faith and life experiences into music and express their faith-feelings in the form of modern sacred music. Against this background, some friends and I have formed a music group called Grace Song. First, the purpose and original intention of our group was to spread God's grace through beautiful music; to pass on God's hope and healing power to people. Thus, we call our group "Grace Song." Secondly, our group is composed of believers from different faith traditions. We all have our own lives and work, so we can only come together during our rest time. Some people have the grace of creating melodies, some are good at writing lyrics, some are singers, and some are responsible for singing, recording and video creation. We dedicate what we have received from God to fulfill our mission. Among our works, there is a song that was recorded by a group of nuns who quietly dedicate their lives to God and faith. The lyrics are about the dedication, tranquillity, simplicity and holiness of these nuns. Another song describes those who work hard for God's cause. After hearing this song, a priest said, "This is what God has done in my life, and this is also the story of my following Jesus." Another song tells the story of those who lost their way on the road of life and returned. "Standing alone at the intersection of home, with wrinkles on their faces, worried, as if chained, crying in sorrow", but they "walk all the way to the Lord, because the Lord is their way home, God stretches out his hands, opens his arms, and waits for a long time." Our group is not mainly about composing traditional sacred music. We prefer to use modern sacred music to tell the story of modern people and God. When Pope Francis was in office, his thoughts and actions pointed out a path for us, that is, the path of encounter with culture. Francis said, "There is always a movement in the encounter. If we all stand still, we will never meet." In fact, modern sacred music is revealing such an encounter, allowing God and modern people to meet, allowing sacred music to meet modern art, allowing people to meet each other in art, and allowing oneself to meet oneself in music. Regarding sacred music, Pope Francis said: "Sacred music builds bridges and brings people closer to the supernatural." He added: "Not only sacred music, but also music in general can build bridges to bring people, including those who are alienated, closer to each other; music has no barriers of nationality, race and skin color, but allows everyone to enter a noble language and always brings different people and groups into harmony. Sacred music can also eliminate the distance between us and those alienated brothers and sisters." A musician once applied the word "embrace" to the relationship between traditional sacred music and modern music. He said: "When the two embrace, I believe that it will expand the vision of the Church and sing God's 'new song' that transcends time and space and is close to the present in every place, era and situation." Yes, let traditional sacred music embrace modern music. In addition, God can also embrace modern people through modern sacred music, and people can embrace their own hearts. Below, I want to share a composition of ours. This song is called The Way Home. It is a song that awakens the soul. The Way Home is a heartfelt Catholic hymn that echoes the soul’s longing for love and the call to return. More than just a melody, it is a spiritual journey back to the One who has never stopped waiting. No matter how far you’ve wandered or how many times you’ve fallen, God’s arms remain open—His love unchanged. Let The Way Home lead you back to peace, hope, and the quiet joy of being found again (lyrics below). 归途（Title） The Way Home（Title） （Verse 1） 我孤独站在归途的路口 - I stand alone at the crossroads on the way home, 脸上苍桑映出岁月的愁 - My face is full of wrinkles reflecting the sorrow of the years, 一路跌撞心中虑忧 - I stumble along the way and worry in my heart, 仿佛桎梏中可怜泪流。As if I am in shackles and crying pitifully. （Verse 2） 我静静伫立在归途路口 - I stand quietly at the crossroads on the way home, 耶稣温柔话语唤我停留 - Jesus’ gentle words call me to stay, 回首过往人生茫茫 - Looking back at the vastness of my past life, 我灵哼唱主爱恩曲不休. My soul hums the song of the Lord's love and grace. （Bridge） 从无走到有，从迷茫到清醒 - From nothing to something, from confusion to sobriety, 从罪走到圣，从死亡到生命。From sin to holiness, from death to life. （Chorus） 啊，一路向主走，因为他是我的归途 - Ah, walk all the way to the Lord, because He is my way home, 他伸手，张开怀抱等我已久。He stretches out his hand and opens his arms to wait with me for a long time. 啊，一路向主走，因为他是我的归途 - Ah, walk all the way to the Lord, because He is my home, 漂泊的心，在他怀中涂抹喜乐的油。My wandering heart is anointed with the oil of joy in His arms. Fr. John Li is a priest from a northern diocese in China. To respect confidentiality, names have been changed in this blog. ---------------------- 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.

It is with heavy hearts and deep sorrow that we share the news of the passing of Ms. Martha Chan, who recently suffered a sudden stroke and is now resting in the peace of Christ. Martha was the Founder and CEO of Educational Resources and Referrals China ( ERRChina ), a role she carried with vision and dedication for the past 39 years. Motivated by her profound love for the Chinese people, she established ERRChina to foster understanding and build bridges through education, scholarly exchange, and research. Her work was not only pioneering but deeply rooted in compassion and mutual respect. The US-China Catholic Association (USCCA) has been honored to partner with Martha and her organization over the years. Our collaboration was especially meaningful through the lecture series and the Chinese and American Friendship Ministry in Berkeley. We are deeply saddened by this loss. Martha’s unwavering commitment to the people of China, her generous spirit, and her tireless efforts to promote mutual understanding have left an indelible mark on all who knew her. Her legacy will continue to inspire us, and her absence will be deeply felt. We hold Martha, her family, and all who mourn her in our prayers during this time of grief. May she rest in the eternal peace of Christ.