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build bridges of friendship & understanding

Book Circles

In Book Circle discussions, friends gather virtually to discuss history, Chinese culture, theology, philosophy, and the life of the Church in China. 

 

In the Spring 2024 semester, the Book Circle discussed the relationship between John C.H. Wu and Thomas Merton—an illustrative encounter between a Catholic from the US and a Catholic from China—through the book Merton and the Tao: Dialogues with John Wu and the Ancient Sages.

Overviews of previous Book Circle discussions can be found on the USCCA Blog. Some examples include:

The next Book Circle discussion will be held on November 16, 2024 at 7 am PT / 8 am MT / 9 am CT / 10 am ET / 11 pm China Standard Time.

The US-China Catholic Association welcomes your participation in the Book Circle.​ If you are interested in participating in a USCCA Book Circle discussion, we invite you to sign up for email updates. Please click here to sign up for updates about upcoming Book Circle sessions.

Book Circle organizers

The organizers of the USCCA Book Circle volunteer their time throughout the year to facilitate opportunities for participants to learn about history, Chinese culture, theology, philosophy, and the life of the Church in China. Their passion for learning enables curious minds from around the world to build bridges of friendship through Book Circle discussions held via international video calls.

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Huili (Kathy) Stout, Ph.D.

Dayton, Ohio

Dr. Stout 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 Oklahoma. 

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Mary Sluka

Riverside, Illinois

Mary Sluka's service to the USCCA stems from her time as a graduate student in Asian Studies at the University of Hawaii. She also has a graduate degree in Pastoral Studies from Catholic Theological Union in Chicago. A long-time member of the Board of the USCCA, she served as Secretary for almost a decade. 

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Rev. Hugh O’Donnell, CM, Ph.D.

Chicago, Illinois

 

Throughout his career, Fr. O'Donnell has held leadership and formation positions in the U.S., China, and in France. Born of Irish immigrant parents in Chicago in 1934, he entered the Congregation of Mission (the Vincentians) in 1952. Ordained a priest in 1961, he eventually went on for doctoral studies in Biblical theology, receiving his Ph.D. from the University of Fribourg, Switzerland, in 1966. Now based in the U.S., Fr. O'Donnell founded and heads up an annual five-week summer program on leadership at De Paul University for sisters and priests from China.

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