Image courtesy of Holy Transfiguration Monastery, Brookline, MA The feast day of St. Augustine Zhao Rong (d. 1815) and Companions, also known as the Martyr Saints of China, was celebrated by the whole Church this Thursday, July 9th, 2026. Fr. Joseph Ruan connects the spirit of these martyrs with the finest values of Chinese civilization and the challenge of the Gospel for our time. We invite you to read Fr. Ruan's reflection below, included in Chinese and then in English: Scr

Parable of the Sower, by unknown author, published by The Religious Tract Society of Hankow (and Shanghai), 1929, Yale Divinity Library God is the sower of good seeds, but our hearts are the field that must respond to the sowing. We invite you to read Fr. Joseph Ruan's latest Bilingual Sunday Scripture Reflection below, included in Chinese and then in English: Scripture Reflection in Chinese 常年期第十五主日（甲年） 今天是常年期第十五主日。今天的福音记载了耶稣所讲的「撒种的比喻」（玛13:1-23）。这是四部福音中最广为人知的比喻之一。许多教友一听到这段福音

Icon depicting Christ's entry into Jerusalem (ca. 14th century, St. Catherine's Monastery of Mount Sinai) In this week's bilingual Scripture reflection, Fr. Joseph Ruan invites us to consider how Jesus promises rest for those who are weary and burdened. Fr. Ruan's reflection is below, in Chinese and then in English: Scripture Reflection in Chinese: 常年期第十四主日（甲年） 今天的福音，是《玛窦福音》中最温暖、最安慰人心的一段经文。耶稣向所有劳苦、疲惫、背负重担的人发出邀请：「凡劳苦和负重担的人，你们都到我跟前来，我要使你们安息。」（玛11:28）两千年来，这句话不断安慰着无数人的心灵。无论是在战争中、

Icon depicting Peter and Paul In this week's bilingual Scripture reflection, Fr. Joseph Ruan invites us to consider the exemplary faithfulness and perseverance of Saints Peter and Paul. Fr. Ruan's reflection is below, in Chinese and then in English: Scripture Reflection in Chinese: 圣伯多禄及圣保禄宗徒节 今天普世教会隆重庆祝圣伯多禄及圣保禄两位宗徒。他们一位是渔夫，一位是法利塞人；一位跟随耶稣三年，一位曾迫害教会；一位受派牧养羊群，一位奉命向万民传扬福音。他们的个性不同、背景不同、恩宠不同、使命也不同，却走向同一个目标：为基督献出生命，为教会奠定基础。因此，今天教会把他们放在同一天庆祝，不仅纪念两位伟大的圣人，同时也让我们看到：天主不要求每一个人都一样，祂愿意藉着不同

by Fr. Joseph Ruan In this Sunday's Gospel, Jesus challenges us to consider the cost and priorities of Christian discipleship. Similar to the Jewish culture at Jesus's time, traditional Chinese culture tends to place the family at the top of its hierarchy of values. Yet Jesus says that our love for him must be even greater than our love for our families. Fr. Joseph Run reminds us of the ultimate question: 在我的生命中，究竟谁排在第一位？ (Who is most important in my life?) Painting by Chen Y

As part of our upcoming Biennial Conference in Houston, Texas, the USCCA is glad to extend you an invitation to the Conference Mass and Banquet. The Conference Mass (open to the public) will be held at 5:30 PM at Ascension Chinese Mission in Houston; the Conference Banquet (registration required) will be held at 7:00 PM at Ocean Palace Restaurant. We invite you to learn more via our promotional flyer. To learn more about the conference and register as an attendee of the full

by Fr. Joseph Ruan In this Sunday's Gospel, Jesus sends out the twelve disciples with missionary instructions. He tells them not to be afraid, reminding them that not even a sparrow falls to the ground without the foreknowledge and providential care of the Heavenly Father. Fr. Joseph Ruan offers a bilingual reflection on the Scriptures, a fitting gift for this Sunday, which happens to be Father's Day. Fr. Joseph's reflection is included below, in Chinese and then in English:

By Fr. Joseph Ruan Group arrival and gathering in China – pilgrims from different ethnic backgrounds united in faith. During April 17–27, 2026, fourteen Catholics from the United States embarked on an unforgettable ten-day spiritual and cultural journey across mainland China. Organized by Mr. Peter Tan and Dr. Benjamin OuYang through USCCA, with the assistance of Apollo Travel & Tours and local guides, the trip brought together a uniquely diverse group of travelers: local Ame

By Huili (Kathy) Stout, USCCA Membership & Administrative Coordinator Sunday, June 7th, 2026, is the Feast of Corpus Christi, also known as the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (基督圣体圣血节). The importance of this Feast, commemorating the sacrifice of Christ as celebrated and received in the Mass, is expressed in many ways by the Church. In our time, it can particularly remind us of the Eucharist being the sacrament of Christian unity and of peace, both interi

by Dr. Chiaretto Yan To mark the Day of Prayer for the Church in China (May 24, feast of Our Lady of Sheshan), Pope Leo delivered a televised message: “We unite our prayers with Chinese Catholics, as a sign of our affection for them, and of their communion with the universal Church and the Successor of Peter.” A beautiful expression of reciprocal love and communion. Over the weekend, 320 Chinese Catholics gathered at Sacred Heart Parish in Padua, Italy, for the 17th annual ro

by Dr. Benjamin T. OuYang, Executive Director of the US-China Catholic Association Inside the Shrine of Sheshan Last Sunday, May 24, was a special day for three reasons. It happened to be Pentecost and the universal Day of Prayer for the Church in China. It was also the feast of Mary, Help of Christians, on the Catholic calendar. What a glorious combination of these three occasions that match together perfectly! For Chinese Catholics, the Shrine of Our Lady of Sheshan near Sh

By Dr. Huili (Kathy) Stout He Qi (Chinese artist, 1950–), Holy Spirit Coming, 1998. Oil on canvas. To commemorate May 24 as the Day of Prayer for the Church in China, designated by Pope Benedict XVI in 2007, in conjunction with the Feast of Pentecost, we offer you a short reflection on a classical Chinese translation of the scripture passage of Acts 2:25-28. This passage is part of St. Peter’s address to the crowd, who had just witnessed the miracle of Pentecost among the dis

We at the US-China Catholic Association deeply appreciate the speakers that have agree to share their perspectives at our 30th Biennial Conference! In our latest YouTube Shorts, USCCA Board Secretary Prof. Anne Tsui, Ph.D., introduces two of our conference speakers. We invite you to view and share these videos with and friends, family, or colleagues who might be interested in joining us at the 30th Biennial Conference: Fr. Thomas Betz, OFM Cap. Sr. Xiaoping Guo If you and you

Have you registered yet for the USCCA's upcoming 30th Biennial Conference, scheduled for July 31–August 2 at the University of St. Thomas in Houston? Our Early Bird discount will only remain open until May 1 at midnight (any time zone) — register today to save! Over the years, more than thirty missionary societies and religious orders have cultivated the gifts of greater dialogue and understanding among Catholics in China and in the Western hemisphere. Our latest YouTube vide

We are looking forward to July 31–August 2, when our 30th Biennial Conference will take place at the University of St. Thomas in Houston, TX. In fact, we are so excited to see you that we have extended the deadline for our Early Bird discount to May 1, 2026! We invite you to act today by registering as an attendee of our upcoming Biennial Conference . Even if you cannot join us for the Conference, we hope that you consider how you might support our mission by donating to h

We are glad to share that the Catholic Campus Ministry Association (CCMA) has opened registration for the third session in their free webinar series on the topic of "Welcoming Chinese International Students." The third webinar, scheduled for 7PM–8PM on April 14, 2026, will focus on "Forming Student Leaders to Accompany Chinese International Students with Care, Sensitivity, and Confidence." We invite you to learn more and register on the CCMA website. For more opportunities to

We at the USCCA are glad to announce the release of our 2025 Annual Report, highlighting some of our last year's accomplishments and aspirations as we carry them forward into 2026. We invite you to read the latest Annual Report . We hope that you find our Annual Report informative and edifying as we work together toward dialogue, peace, and friendship. For in-person opportunities to learn about theology, history, and the life of the Church in China, we invite you to register

In partnership with ChinaSource and the China Academic Consortium, the US-China Catholic Association co-hosts free public lectures through the Speaker Series. We are thrilled to announce two upcoming free public lectures in the coming weeks! On March 20, via Zoom, retired US Government China specialist Gregory J. Nedved will share his perspective on "Clash of Civilizations: China, the United States, and Religion (Catholicism)." Mr. Nedved retired in 2024 from his role as a h

The US-China Catholic Association is thrilled to announce that registration is now open to the public for attendance at our 30th Biennial Conference . Scheduled for July 31–August 2, 2026, at the University of St. Thomas in Houston, TX, this conference will place special emphasis on the theme of "Nourishing Trust and Friendship: Following the Way of Christ." This conference is sure to be an unforgettable opportunity to build bridges of friendship among lay and religious brot

On February 21, the US-China Catholic Association Book Circle discussed Terri McNichol's article, "Leadership lessons from landscape painting East and West: Cultivating a spiritual eco-imagination." "Autumn Colors on the Qiao and Hua Mountains," Zhao Mengfu, ca. 1276 Terri, a prior Book Circle participant as well as art historian and founder of Ren Associates, drew participants into the details of Chinese and American landscape painting. Themes included the relationship betw