Have you considered becoming a USCCA Affiliate? In addition to contributing financially to our mission, Affiliates also volunteer their time and skills in service of friendship and bridge-building among Catholics in the U.S. and in China. Most recently, the USCCA has celebrated Shirley Wang's choice to join us as an Affiliate. Currently a student of mental health counseling practice at Divine Mercy University, Shirley (pictured left) has previously served as a rapporteur at t

Tomorrow is Valentine's Day, but did you know that it is also the Feast Day of Saints Cyril (pictured) and Methodius? In a Valentine's Day article for Word on Fire , Fr. Steve Grunow introduces us to Sts. Cyril and Methodius: They were missionaries in that region of Europe where the culture of the East meets the culture of the West. Their missionary efforts represent a powerful example of cooperation between the Church of the West and the East. This Valentine's Day, we invite

Last week, Board Members and other friends of the USCCA gathered to learn about how we will work together to build bridges of dialogue in 2025 and beyond. We are grateful to these friends for the time that they continue to volunteer in service of our mission! This meeting was particularly helpful for our new Associate Directors, who were announced in our January 5 article, "New Year, New Board Members!" Fr. Aaron Bohr, S.J., one of the USCCA's new Associate Directors, offered

By Kathy Stout, Ph.D. Today’s board member orientation meeting was heartwarming and memorable. Anne with her unforgettable smile, Peter talking to us while driving on the road, Fr. Aaron’s beautiful opening prayer, and so much more. The most striking thing for me, however, was the feeling of being wowed by the presence of so many smart and holy people, who gathered for no other reason but the desire to serve. The concept of volunteering is a Western one associated with the re

Have you heard about the USCCA's Book Circle Discussions ? Through Zoom meetings on select scheduled Saturdays, we learn together about history, Chinese culture, theology, philosophy, and the life of the Church in China. This semester, we are reading John C. H. Wu's Chinese Humanism and Christian Spirituality . If you have not done so yet, we invite you to order your copy from Angelico Books today . With discount code wu15 , you are eligible for a 15% discount. Our next m

Did you attend or read about Cardinal Stephen Chow's Welcome Speech at the USCCA's 29th International Conference ? Cardinal Stephen Chow, SJ, is the Bishop of Hong Kong. As we move together from the winter holiday season into the natural beauty of spring, we invite you to read Cardinal Chow's recent comments on sustainable consumption and the ways in which we can glorify God through stewardship of creation . How do you intend to care for creation this year? May we build frien

by Rev. Rob Carbonneau, CP, Ph.D. This 1920s photo from the Passionist China Collection shows a snake charmer from Wusu 烏宿 in West Hunan 湘西. Let this photo inspire us to celebrate the Chinese New Year 2025, The Year of the Snake, on January 29. In the Chinese Zodiac the snake is the sign for individuals who were born in 1905, 1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, and 2025. At the end of this short essay are some qualities said to be associated with people born

Today is the Lunar New Year, also called Chinese New Year or the Spring Festival. This year, it marks the beginning of the Year of the Snake! Many Chinese Catholics in the United States and in China celebrate Lunar New Year with a special Mass. To learn more, we invite you to read the Catholic News Agency article, Michigan Parish Celebrates Chinese New Year in Mandari n , as well as Sr. Gaby Yang's article, Chinese Lunar New Year Celebration . ---------------------- The USCCA

By Tom McGuire, with contributions from his wife Florence January 29, 2025, is the first day of the Spring Festival, the Year of the Snake. The Spring Festival is also known as the Chinese New Year and the Lunar New Year. People from many different Asian countries celebrate this fifteen-day festival rooted in Chinese culture. Spring Festival Mass in Chicago, 2023 (Year of the Dragon) When I was in Hong Kong, the Spring Festival was an important introduction to Chinese culture

How can we understand Chinese humanism in the light of Christian spirituality? John C. H. Wu provides some helpful ideas in Chinese Humanism and Christian Spirituality . On Saturday, January 18, 2025, the USCCA Book Circle gathered to discuss pages i–38 of this work, in which Wu describes the teachings of Confucius and Mencius. During Saturday's discussion, participants reflected on Wu's analysis of these Chinese sages and remarked upon the continuing relevance of their wisdo

On this Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the USCCA invites you to visit the University of St. Michael's John M. Kelly Library for an exhibition on "The Golden Rule: Social Justice and the Scarboro Foreign Mission Society." The exhibition's opening talk, "Reflections to Shape the Future, 1918–2025: The Scarboro Mission Archives at St. Michael's College at the University of Toronto," will be given at 6:00pm on January 21 by none other than USCCA Board Member Fr. Robert E. Carbonnea

Tomorrow is MLK Day, and we are grateful for Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s legacy of friendship across social, economic, racial, and national boundaries. As civil rights activist Grace Lee Boggs has reflected, He not only empowered those on the front lines, but in the process developed a strategy for transforming a struggle for rights into a struggle that advances the humanity of everyone in the society and thereby brings the beloved community closer to realization. ( Ye

Did you know that in 1941, Holy Redeemer Catholic Church became the first church in the Western Hemisphere built in order to serve as a place of worship for Chinese Catholics? At 2:00pm ET on this Sunday, January 19, we invite you to learn more about the history of Holy Redeemer Catholic Church from a lecture presented by Fr. Thomas Betz, OFM CAP. This lecture will be free to the public and live-streamed for virtual attendance! For more information on how to register, please

By Tom McGuire, M.Div, M.R.E., USCCA Director Emeritus Bishop John S. Cummins was laid to rest on December 21, 2024, at the Cathedral, Christ the Light, in Oakland, California. He is remembered as a friend and a caring pastor of the People of God. In his homily at the funeral mass, Fr Vassar captures my memory of Bishop Cummins. He said, When we leave this holy ground, this lakeside beach to which we have been called by him, whose body we lay to rest today, rejoice in being w

Have you heard about the USCCA's Book Circle Discussions ? Through Zoom meetings on select scheduled Saturdays, we learn together about history, Chinese culture, theology, philosophy, and the life of the Church in China. This semester, we will be reading John C. H. Wu's Chinese Humanism and Christian Spirituality . If you have not done so yet, we invite you to order your copy from Angelico Books today . With discount code wu15 , you are eligible for a 15% discount. Our fi

As we enter 2025, the USCCA is glad to share the news of several individuals who committed in 2024 to serving our mission: John Dewan Alfred Gui Kathleen O'Brien, M.A. Fr. Aaron A. C. Bohr, SJ Fr. Edward Griswold Drew McNeil Margaret Smetana Sr. Dong Hong Marie Zhang, CSSF Karina Patman In addition to the new Board members mentioned above, we have been recently blessed to welcome Phoebe Qian as an Affiliate in the role of Digital Designer. If you are interested in volunteerin

Have you heard about the 2025 USCCA Book Circle discussions ? The Book Circle meets on select Saturdays at 6 am PT / 7 am MT / 8 am CT / 9 am ET. This year, we will discuss John C. H. Wu's Chinese Humanism and Christian Spirituality . With discount code wu15 , you can order this book from Angelico Books today for a 15% discount! Please share this information with your friends, family, and church communities who have an interest in learning more about history, Chinese cultur