A founding member of the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association (CCPA) in 1957, Zhang was elected and consecrated as the Bishop of Shanghai in 1960 without Vatican approval.

He then suffered persecution during the Cultural Revolution, but resumed his position after the movement and became a political figure in his final years.

He also met with world religious figures including Robert Runcie, John Baptist Wu, and Desmond Tutu.

[3] After Zhang returned to China, he was appointed as the assistant rector of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Church, Pudong [zh] for a year.

[3] In 1949, fearing the imminent CCP takeover, the provincial superior of the Jesuit Province of Jingxian, Franz Burckhardt [zh], instructed Zhang and Lian Guobang to send the sisters of the Congregation of Notre Dame to Macau.

[7] We thank Divine Providence that the People's Government has taken effective measures to save our church in Shanghai from Kung's road to destruction.

[10][9] Later in 1955, about 70 priests of the Diocese of Shanghai published "A Letter to Clergy and Congregation" (《告神长教友书》), which supported the CCP and the government's response to Kung's counter-revolutionary and treasonous group.

[9] The council then sent a telegram to the Vatican seeking approval for their action, but the Holy See did not recognize Zhang Shilang,[11][12] and affirmed Kung's episcopate instead.

[10] In March 1958, the clergy members of the Archdiocese of Hankou and the Diocese of Wuchang elected Bernardine Dong Guangqing and Yuan Wenhua [zh] as bishops respectively.

[13] Meanwhile, from 1956 to 1957, a series of conferences were held in Beijing to prepare the establishment of the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association (CCPA).

[16] From 30 March to 10 April 1960, Zhang observed the 2nd National People's Congress in Beijing along with other clergy members and laymen.

[17] On the 26th of the month, Zhang was consecrated bishop under the self-election, self-consecration principle by Archbishop Ignatius Pi Shushi and Bishop Francis Xavier Zhao Zhensheng [zh], along with Matthias Wu Guohuan [zh], Shu Qishei (舒其谁), and Fang Zhigang (方志刚).

[20] Zhang was also elected as the vice chair of the Shanghai CPA, subordinate to the chairman Hu Wenyao [zh].

[22] After the Cultural Revolution began in 1966, Zhang was sent down to work at a factory, where he fixed umbrellas and washed glass bottles.

When the Red Guards led by Kuai Dafu [zh] attacked and damaged St. Ignatius Cathedral, Xujiahui, they put the priests and nuns through struggle sessions, and forced them to desecrate statues of saints and crosses.

[30] Zhang opposed Zhu and other non-governmental priests,[29] and said in December 1981 that they engaged in "illegal activities under the cloak of Catholicism.

On 23 June, a plenary conference including clergy members from Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Anhui, and Shanghai resolved to establish Sheshan Seminary, with Zhang as the president of the board and Jin as the rector.

[29][33] In March 1985, while attending the CPPCC in Beijing, Zhang met with Bishop John Baptist Wu of Hong Kong.

[38] The Shanghai Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference [zh] held a memorial service for Zhang on the same day.