The U.S. Catholic China Bureau’s 22nd National China Conference will be held the weekend of Nov. 3-5 at the Simpsonwood Retreat and Conference Center in Norcross. Taking the theme “Experiencing Jesus Christ Through Chinese Eyes,” this year’s conference will examine ways in which Chinese cultural, social, intellectual, theological, artistic and other perspectives reflect, as through a prism, dimensions that can enrich a shared understanding of Christ. Together participants will seek to learn more deeply about the faith life and spiritual journey of the living church in China in its own context.

The event will begin with registration at 2 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 3, followed by the opening session at 4 p.m., and it will close with a noon luncheon on Sunday, Nov. 5. Giving the keynote address will be Dr. Enoch Wan, professor of intercultural studies at Western Seminary in Portland, Ore. Wan, who is active in missiological circles, has authored and published extensively on Asian contextual theology. Among his recent works is “Christian Witness in Pluralistic Contexts in the 21st Century.”

Father Paul Shi Hui Min, STD, candidate at the Jesuit School of Theology at Berkeley, Calif., will offer a Christological reflection on the Passion of Jesus in the New Testament from a contemporary Chinese perspective. Dr. Rachel Zhu Xiao Hong, associate professor of religious studies at Fu Dan University in Shanghai and currently scholar-in-residence at the Center for Spirituality at St. Mary’s College at Notre Dame, will discuss the struggle for truth among Chinese secular scholars of religion and the quest for closer collaboration between the church and the academy in China today.

A panel of other resource persons will speak from a variety of other perspectives on the theme. All sessions will include interactive engagement with the conference participants, as well as small group discussions. In addition to the plenary and breakout sessions, there will be a resources and books exhibit and sale. Social highlights include a welcome reception on Friday afternoon, and a Chinese dinner and cultural performance on Saturday evening. Cardinal Paul Shan, SJ, Archbishop-emeritus of Kaohsiung Diocese in Taiwan, will be the celebrant and homilist at the Sunday eucharistic liturgy.

Held in various geographic locations across the country every 18 months, this conference is the first national Catholic China conference to be held in the southeastern United States. Organizers expect to draw participants from the large Chinese Catholic community and ecumenical friends from the Atlanta area, as well as other participants with interests in religion and the church in China from across the U.S. and from Canada, Asia and Europe.

The deadline to reserve lodgings at Simpsonwood is Sept. 12. Commuters are welcome. Cost for a double room is $445, for a single room is $525. Conference cost is $250 for commuters.