What happens in the onMessage method? Does it go to completion? Is there anything in the activity.log or the System log?
Here's a tutorial that goes over setting up JMS in WAS 6:
Configuring JMS and MDBs in WebSphere 6.1 And here's a tutorial that demonstrates demonstrating how to configure WAS 5.x for the deployment of an ear with everything from a MDB to a CMP:
Deploying a Messaging Application in WAS 5.x Perhaps you'll see something in those tutorials you may have missed.
Good luck.
-Cameron McKenzie