How has this Lenten season challenged you to grow in your faith? Journeying together through the midpoint of Lent in 2025, we invite you to read this year's Lenten pastoral letter from Cardinal Stephen Chow Sau-yan, SJ, Cardinal of Hong Kong . In his letter, Cardinal Chow reminds us that it is "wise to examine our hearts and re-orient them to where we want to be in eternity." May Catholics in the U.S. and in China grow together in friendship and dialogue as we journey through

By Yiyi Zhang Photo of Mother Elizabeth, shared with Yiyi Zhang by Mother Eliane, who serves at the Skete of the Holy Cross in Romania, founded by Mother Elizabeth. Mother Elizabeth, a cloistered missionary in Chongqing, endured profound turmoil in the middle of the 20th century. Yet, her memoir reveals a soul who carried the cross not with despair, but with peace, hope, and even joy. She kept a gentle smile while facing war, persecution and upheaval, not because it was easy,

On Mar 15, the Book Circle discussed a short chapter "Taoism" in John C. H. Wu's book, Christian Spirituality and Chinese Humanism . Participants shared rich observations on both the challenges and possibilities in living out Laozi's philosophical vision in the Daodejing . How does one retire when the work is done? How does one practice the art of wu-wei ? And how might the Daoist vision of humility and simplicity accord with the kenosis of Christ? Thanks to everyone for an e

by Kathy Stout, Ph.D. This Lent, may you taste a portion of the transfiguration experienced by Wu and promised by Christ. Image from The University of Notre Dame Press To strengthen us in our Lenten journey, the Church recalls the memory of Jesus’s Transfiguration on Mount Tabor in this Sunday’s reading. According to St. Maximus the Confessor, the Transfiguration reveals the future of human destiny as a direct participation in the divine light of God. The second reading of th

Have you ever wondered about the first Christians in China? On March 20, ChinaSource will host a free public lecture by Dr. Glen Thompson, Professor Emeritus of Asia Lutheran Seminary in Hong Kong. The topic of the lecture will be "China's Earliest Christians: Who Were They and What Can We Learn From Them?" Dr. Thompson's book, Jingjiao: The Earliest Christian Church in China , was recently given an Award of Merit from Christianity Today .  Dr. Thompson will introduce us to a

by Rev. Rob Carbonneau, CP, Ph.D. image from The Ricci Institute for Chinese-Western Cultural History at Boston College The life of Xu Guangxi reminds us how our Lenten encounters offer us the opportunity to increase our respect for people we meet, intellectual discovery, and offering support for greater religious understanding and harmony. Xu Guangqi first met a Catholic missionary in Guangdong, China in 1596. In 1600, he traveled to Nanjing to visit Jesuit Matteo Ricci (155

This Lenten season, may we remember Pope Francis's invitation to "journey together in hope" ( Message of the Holy Father Francis for Lent 2025 ): This Lent, God is asking us to examine whether in our lives, in our families, in the places where we work and spend our time, we are capable of walking together with others, listening to them, resisting the temptation to become self-absorbed and to think only of our own needs. Let us ask ourselves in the presence of the Lord whether

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. The next Book Circle discussion will be held on March 15, 2025; we will be discussing the section entitled "Taoism" (pp. 51–57) in John C. H. Wu's Chinese Humanism and Christian Spirituality , which is now available from Angelico Books for 15% off with the di

Looking back on the year of the USCCA's 35th anniversary, we appreciate the historical and ongoing importance of our mission to build bridges of peace and friendship across countries and cultures. In 2024, the USCCA promoted dialogue through programs like the Book Circle, the Chinese and American Friendship Ministry, and the 29th USCCA International Conference with the help of supporters like you. We invite you to read more about the USCCA's mission and accomplishments in our

The USCCA Board of Directors was pleased to welcome Dr. Kathy (Huili) Stout and Ms. Vicky (Lianghui) Sun as Incoming Associate Directors. Dr. Stout (left), who has been serving as a USCCA Book Circle organizer for over a year, received her Ph.D. in theology from the University of Dayton in December 2023. She has taught classes on theology and religious studies as well as Daoism, Buddhism, and Chinese traditions in general to undergraduate students at UD and the University of

On February 15, 2025, the USCCA Book Circle gathered to discuss pp. 15–50 of John C. H. Wu's Chinese Humanism and Christian Spirituality . In these passages, Wu shares his perspective on "Mencius' Philosophy of Human Nature and Natural Law" (pp. 15–35) and on "The Spirit of Joy in the Chinese Sages" (pp. 39–50). This Book Circle discussion touched on such themes as natural law, joy as harmony, and the mandate of heaven understood through Catholic tradition and Chinese cultu

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