Prayer, Intention and Community - Reflection From Our Board President

A Reflection on the Jubilee Bull of Indiction and World Mission Day Message 2025

Delivered by Antoinette Mensah, Ph.D., during the first session of our virtual jubilee journey.

Good morning, good afternoon, good evening—wherever you are, welcome, and thank you. On behalf of the United States Catholic Mission Association (USCMA), I’m honored to be with you and very proud of this collaboration with Father Anh Nhue.

USCMA is committed to three pillars: networking, formation, and advocacy. While we engage with people who have formal responsibilities in mission, we’re also deeply focused on the everyday faith leader—the person sitting in the pew asking: How can I be engaged in evangelization? How can I live out missionary discipleship?

This gathering, and the ones to follow, are meant to inspire and equip that person—to offer space for reflection, growth, and action.

As Father Anh Nhue mentioned, formation is essential:
When I reflect on what it means to be an instrument of hope, I keep coming back to intentionality—
Lately, I’ve been challenged—personally—in situations where I rushed to judgment. I had to step back and consider the full reality of another person’s experience. If I am to be Christ-like, then I must choose to see and respond with compassion. Hope also demands that we see clearly: to recognize the signs of the times, and to respond appropriately.

But here’s the truth: without prayer and spiritual grounding, our good intentions can lead to chaos rather than peace. I’m reminded of a cartoon—the Tasmanian Devil, wildly spinning in every direction. Without prayer and guidance, I too can become that whirlwind, making noise but not progress. Missionary renewal is not a solo act. It happens in community. It requires listening, discerning, and walking with others. Hope is not wishful thinking—it’s confidence in God’s promises.

Recently, I visited Rwanda. Despite the unimaginable horror of the genocide, I encountered people who embody hope—not a vague or passive hope—but a hope rooted in confidence, in healing, and in the belief that they will come through together.

So as I close, I invite you to hold onto that kind of hope. To renew your missionary spirit with prayer, intention, and community.

Thank you for being here today. I hope you’ll continue with us through the rest of this series—and if you’re in the U.S., a quick plug: join us for our culminating event this July in Wisconsin.

Thank you again for your time, your presence, and your commitment to being instruments of hope.

Dr. Antoinette Mensah is president of the USCMA Board and executive director of the Office for World Mission and Society for the Propagation of the Faith of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.