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Encounter Newsletter

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Networking, Formation, and Advocacy Opportunities

Get the details about our ongoing Jubilee series, the CRS National Call on April 12, the 2025 Lay Ministry Summit, and Maryknoll’s Formation Seminar.

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Prayer, Intention and Community – Reflection from our Board President

Antoinette Mensah, Ph.D., 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, reflected on mission and hope during the first session of our virtual Jubilee journey series.

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Mission Immersion Opportunities

The best way to discover the call to mission is to experience it firsthand. Maryknoll mission immersion experiences can light a fire for mission by helping people encounter Christ in…

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Mission Trip Chaplaincy Opportunity – Bolivia/Paraguay

Solidarity Bridge is seeing Mission Team Chaplains for their short-term mission trips supporting surgical partners in Bolivia and Paraguay. ​Team chaplains provide pastoral care to patients, families and a religiously…

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Choosing Hope – Letter from Our Executive Director

Taking a cue from Pope Francis, in this month’s letter Kevin Foy offers some insights on the nature, purpose, and practice of hope.

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An Invitation to Hope – Join Us on a Jubilee Journey

USCMA seeks to learn, grow and mobilize as missionaries of hope. Check out the virtual and in-person opportunities!

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Save the Date – Summit on Mission and Evangelization July 23-24 in Wisconsin

Join us at Schoenstatt Conference Center outside Milwaukee for an inspirational gathering of faith leaders, missionaries, and advocates committed to revitalizing ministries and deepening engagement in God’s Mission.

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Laity Working in the Catholic Church – 2025 National Survey

Are you a lay person working in the US Church? The National Association for Lay Ministry’s Laity Working in the Catholic Church Survey seeks to understand the life and ministry/service/work of today’s lay leaders in parishes, dioceses, and Catholic ministries.

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Share ENCOUNTER!

The ENCOUNTER newsletter is the best way to stay connected with the USCMA community and informed of upcoming opportunity. Please make sure others in your organization and network sign up to receive these updates.

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Announcing Witnesses of Hope: A Virtual Jubilee Journey

Join fellow ministers and missionaries on a virtual journey of hope using the words of Pope Francis. Presented on the last Thursday of every month and in conjunction with the Summit on Mission and Evangelization in July.

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A World of Mission – February 2025 Highlights

This month’s links include the pope’s 2025 Message for World Mission Day, as well as news from Asia, Africa and Latin America.

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Book Review – Jesus and His Abba by Leonardo Boff

“This little book – just 113 pages – changed the way I view Jesus…”

Don McCrabb, D. Min., reflects on this new text by renowned theologian Leonardo Boff. “For me, studying will not be enough. I will pray with Jesus and his Abba so Boff’s lifelong love of the Son of God will refresh, revive and renew my own.

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Call to Action on International Aid

Take action now: follow the Catholic Relief Services action alert to see how you can lend your voice to this critical issue. Get more informed: read recent statements from Caritas Internationalis, the US Bishops and USCMA.

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A Video Invitation to Our Jubilee Pilgrimage

Bishop James T. Schuerman, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and spiritual guide for the USCMA Jubilee of the Missions Pilgrimage to Italy shares details about this wonderful opportunity to visit Italy in October.

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Jubilee of the Missions – Update and Informational Meetings

The dates of our pilgrimage have changed to October 2-11 due to adjustments in the schedule at the Vatican, which is now celebrating the Jubilee of Missions on October 4 and 5. Join USCMA and Nativity Pilgrimages for this exciting event at the Vatican and other experiences in Rome and Assisi. Get the details at our informational Zoom meetings in February.

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More than Buzzwords – Letter from Our Executive Director

Kevin Foy reflects on the USCMA mission and updates members about current efforts to form working groups, assemble an Advocacy Committee, and revamp the website.

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Go Forth… Podcast Update – Thank You, Ben Ouyang!

After two years, USCMA is ceasing production of the Go Forth… Missionary Interviews podcast. We thank our podcast host, Dr. Benjamin OuYang, for his dedication to inspiring everyday Catholics through your mission stories. Go Forth… will continue to publish our weekly reflections on the Sunday readings, available online and through email.

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Missionary Discipleship and the Call to Jubilee 2025 – Lessons From CAM6

“As we commence the Jubilee Year of Hope in 2025, these lessons inspire us to renew our commitment to mission and live as faith leaders grounded in God’s will.”

USCMA Board President Antoinette Mensah, Ph.D., reflects on themes from the Sixth American Mission Congress, which took place this past November in Puerto Rico.

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Peace in the Eucharist – Reflection on the 2024 USCMA Conference

Daniel Lizarraga, Mission Services Department Manager for the Maryknoll Lay Missioners, reflects on his experience at the recent USCMA conference. Moved by the testimony of Fr. Abdon Rwandekwe, SJ, on his experiences during and following the genocide in Rwanda, Daniel connects lessons of peace, justice and reconciliation to his own experiences and the work of Maryknoll Lay Missioners.

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Executive Director Search – US-China Catholic Association

Get the details about this important role which seeks to advance dialogue and build bridges between Catholics in the United States and China. Consider applying or sharing this opportunity with a friend!

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A World of Mission – January 2025 Highlights

How is the church serving as a field hospital? What opportunities, changes, and challenges abound in Africa, Latin America, Oceania, and the Middle East? What are the latest appointments and messages in the Vatican? Get the full round up!

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Our Deepest Anticipation – Letter from Our Executive Director

Kevin Foy reminds us that Advent is an opportunity to turn our gaze away from things we can not control and focus on God in the birth of his Son and in the people we meet.

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Jubilee of the Missions – Pilgrimage to Italy! October 13-22, 2025

Join USCMA leaders and other missionaries on this extraordinary opportunity to experience Rome and Assisi. The 10-day pilgrimage includes daily Mass, a meeting with the Holy Father, and a private visit to the Vatican Gardens in addition to other tours and prayer opportunities.

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USCMA 2025 – Reinvigorating Mission

Our recent conference revealed that members crave opportunities to meet, learn, and share with each other. Check out our upcoming plans and provide your insights!

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Computer Coding Skills for Youth

Code Equity would love to work with missionary organizations to provide free training in computer skills to teenagers and young adults.

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The Where and the What – Letter from Our Executive Director

This month, Kevin Foy explores how the Church still struggles to understand and embody mission, missiology, and missionary discipleship. He focuses particularly on whether where mission takes place impacts what mission is – and if we go far enough beyond our comfort zone.

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Conference Schedule Updates – Get the Details!

We’ve confirmed that Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski of St. Louis will celebrate Mass with us, and our social hour sponsors look forward to meeting you.

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Resource Highlight for October 2024

In his new book, Community of Missionary Disciples: The Continuing Creation of the Church, Stephen Bevans unpacks the profound Catholic conviction that the church is missionary by its very nature as he considers what it means for the church to be on mission, in community, and together in discipleship.

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Webinar – Indigenous People: Peoples of Memory, Resistance and Hope

On October 23, 2024, the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers invite you to a groundbreaking Zoom webinar as we celebrate the newly proclaimed Day of Indigenous People in the Americas. Don’t miss this opportunity to honor indigenous peoples’ legacy, hear transformative stories, and join the global conversation on reconciliation and hope. Register now on the Maryknoll website.

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A World of Mission – October 2024 Updates

This month, we share news about relief efforts for Hurricane Helene in the United States and how Catholic Relief Services continues responding to emergencies around the world and addressing the escalating crisis in Lebanon.

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October Calendar Highlights

Looking ahead, we see the Synod of Bishops general assembly, our conference, the upcoming Ordinary Jubilee Year and the Jubilee of the Missions in October 2025.

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Part of God’s Life – Letter from Our New Executive Director

Our new executive director, Kevin Foy, shares some of experiences during his first month, including attending the US-China Catholic Association conference in Chicago.

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Tell Us What You Think!

Your feedback helps USCMA continue to discern how best to support you and the communities you serve in mission.

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