LATROBE, PA – A new book published in May 2026 by Liturgical Press provides an extensive account of the founding of Fu Jen Catholic University more than 100 years ago in Peking (now Beijing) by Fr. Aurelius Stehle, O.S.B., the then-Archabbot of Saint Vincent Archabbey, as China’s first Catholic university.
The work, “American Benedictines in Peking: The Founding of Fu Jen Catholic University, 1925-1933,” contains an in-depth account of the April 3-4, 2025, academic conference “One Hundred Years of Faith, Education, and Service” held at Saint Vincent College to observe the significance of the establishment of Fu Jen as the oldest and largest Catholic university in the Chinese-speaking world. Presentations focused on individuals of importance for setting up and operating the University.
Dr. Fang-Chung Chen, professor of history at Fu Jen, discussed Ying Lianzhi, the Chinese Catholic intellectual who had urged the creation of a Catholic university in China.
Dr. Jerome Oetgen, C’69, S’73, historian, who edited the book and has written extensively about the Benedictines in the United States, discussed how Archabbot Aurelius organized the start of the University.
Br. Nicholas Koss, O.S.B., P’61, C’66, S’70, who teaches at Fu Jen Catholic University, discussed the role of Fr. Ildephonse Brandstetter, O.S.B., in this endeavor. He was one of the first Benedictines sent to Peking and the first Prior of the Benedictine community at Fu Jen.
Dr. Lucas Briola, C’13, Endowed Chair in Catholic Thought and Culture, Roundtable of Scholars member, associate professor and chair of the Theology Department at the College, discussed the many contributions of Fr. Barry O’Toole, O.S.B., a Benedictine oblate who was appointed the first president of Fu Jen.
Fr. James Flint, O.S.B., subprior, archivist, historian, treasurer and oblate director at St. Procopius Abbey in Lisle, Illinois, discussed Fr. Francis Clougherty, O.S.B., a diocesan priest in China who worked closely with Fr. Barry in dealing with academics at the University.
Dr. Sophia Geng, the James and Margaret Tseng Loe Endowed Chair in China Studies and member of the Roundtable of Scholars at the College, discussed Fr. Gregory Schramm, O.S.B., a monk of Newark Abbey who taught at Fu Jen. He was regarded as one of the most successful teachers at the University and was the inspiration for the James and Margaret Tseng Loe Center for China Studies at Saint Vincent.
The final chapter of the book about the American Benedictine sisters and their efforts to set up the Women’s College of Fu Jen Catholic University was written by Br. Nicholas. There was no presentation on this topic at the conference itself.
In 1922, Cardinal Willem Marinus van Rossum, C.Ss.R., prefect of the Propaganda Fide, asked the Benedictines in America to establish a Catholic university in China. Three years later, Archabbot Aurelius sent two monks to Peking.
About one dozen Benedictines ran Fu Jen University until 1933, when financial straits caused by the Great Depression forced them to cede control of the institution. The Society of the Divine Word, a German missionary congregation, managed Fu Jen until 1952, when the Chinese Communist Party shuttered all missionary universities.
In the early 1960s, Fu Jen University was re-established in Xinzhuang, New Taipei City, Taiwan, at the behest of Pope John XXIII. The Archabbey sent monks to work as teachers and established Wimmer Priory. Fu Jen has flourished over the past 30 years and consists of 12 colleges and a hospital and has more than 25,000 students.
The book can be purchased in the Saint Vincent College bookstore. More information can be found on the Liturgical Press website.
