Podcast Host Ben OuYang Confirmed for API National Encounter!

We recently learned that our podcast host, Dr. Ben OuYang, will be one of the speakers at The Asian and Pacific Island National Encounter Radiant Faith: The Witness of Asian and Pacific Island Catholics, a pre-event for the 10th Eucharistic Congress to be held July 15 -17, 2024 at Indiana University in Indianapolis (aka IUPUI). The Encounter is sponsored by the USCCB Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church and coordinated by Assistant Director for Asian and Pacific Island Affairs Sr. Myrna Tordillo and an ad-hoc committee comprised of lay women and men as well as religious, priests and bishops.  

Our communications specialist, Lisa Helene Bacalski, asked Dr. Ben some questions about how this opportunity came about and his experiences as a Chinese Catholic in the United States. You can hear more of his story in one of our very first podcast episodes. 

How did you and Sister Myrna connect about this event? Did you have a previous relationship with her?
Sister Myrna has known me for several years as I have volunteered for the API Catholic Network. She has seen me in several roles as an emcee, panel member for various events, and as the Young Adult Coordinator.
  
How have you experienced some of the challenges and blessings of the Chinese community in the Catholic church?
There are many blessings in the Catholic Chinese communities, including a strong culture combined with a growing faith. I was very proud to serve the Catholic Chinese community for over 30 years. At the same time, the Catholic Chinese communities face many challenges as it struggles with the importance of bilingualism and a leadership base that doesn't always consider and understand the cultural needs of the American born Chinese.

USCMA members are in relationship with many different cultural communities. How could they benefit by participating in this event?
This event is not only for just Catholic Chinese, but for all Asian Catholics as well as those who want to learn more about the Catholic Asian communities.The Directory for Catechesis states, “The New Testament presents different formulations of the kerygma that respond to the various ways in which salvation is understood, as it is enunciated with distinctive accents in the various cultures for different persons” (58). So, a parish needs to be culturally sensitive to the different cultures represented with their parishioners. By being sensitive to the cultural differences, they can better share Christ's love to the different communities.  By going to this event, attendees will relate to and see many different aspects of the Catholic Asian communities.  


Check out the May 2024 ENCOUNTER feature article for more details!