Parish Pastoral Council

Cheryl Schmitz

33 years in the parish

I am Cheryl Schmitz and feel privileged to be considered for Parish Council. Joining Ascension at its inception and growing with the parish has been a joy! My faith journey has been tied to the parish in many ways including helping to follow church doctrine for ambo and baptismal font placement at construction, to Christ Renews His Parish (Team IV), many and varied gifts in the music ministry, participation in the beginnings of the adult faith ministry and several offerings, serving facility-bound parishioners as EMHC, a lector, volunteering, and more. It has been insightful to grow with the parish as it evolved and participate in that growth of inclusion, offerings, diversity, and education.

Faith IS action! This prayer-filled offer to join the Parish Council is made with the hope of fostering joy, patience and charity to continue the evolution of Church of the Ascension. Thank you for the consideration.

I want to serve on Parish Council to support spirit-guided evolution of the parish toward its vision and mission. I could offer the following specific gifts to the parish: varied ministries involvement from early days to today, ecumenical perspective, planning/research/organization abilities, exposure to care giving demands and health-related parishioner journeys.

Adam Schreiner

8 years in the parish

My name is Adam Schreiner and I reside in Overland Park with my wife Meghan and our three children, Maximus (6th), Maverik (4th), and Madeleine (2nd). Since joining the parish in 2016, we have become increasingly involved in the wonderful community we have here at Ascension, from participating in various ministries within the church to enrolling our children in the school. Our journey with the parish has been deeply enriching and I’m eager about the opportunity to serve the parish on the Parish Pastoral Council.

At Ascension, I’ve served in roles such as Sacristan, Eucharistic Minister, and volunteering in the Hospital Eucharistic Ministry.

My involvement in various ministries here at Ascension has instilled in me a profound appreciation for the power of service as well as provided insights into our community’s needs. I’m genuinely excited about the opportunity to contribute to the Parish Pastoral Council, where I can play a role in nurturing the spiritual growth and fostering the sense of community within our parish. With dedication, a collaborative spirit, and a commitment to creating a welcoming environment, I aim to promote effective communication and advocate for initiatives that resonate with both our parish’s priorities and the broader mission of the Catholic Church.

Jacob Stuhlsatz

5 years in the parish

My name is Jacob Stuhlsatz. My wife, Allison and I have been parishioners at Ascension Parish for five years. We have four amazing children, three of whom, attend Ascension Catholic school. We have absolutely loved being a part of the Ascension community, and are excited to become even more involved. I am currently a physical therapist working in the home health setting. I also teach physical therapy courses at Rockhurst University and coach several youth sports teams. I would love to be considered for the pastoral council to bring my own unique gifts and talents to the table and to create an added benefit for the parish. I have been involved in CRHP, Watch Dogs and helped out with Donut Sundays. I truly believe that it takes all backgrounds and personalities coming together to create the best team. I would add the benefit of a younger and newer parishioner viewpoint. I am a very quick learner, and I excel in creating unique and effective solutions for various dilemmas or growth endeavors.

Carrie Kramer

4 years in the parish

My name is Carrie Kramer and I am an optometrist turned stay at home mom of three children who attend Ascension Catholic School, currently in the 3rd, 4th, and 6th grades. I am on the Celebrate Ascension Committee and also spend time volunteering at school and as a CYO coach. We love the Ascension Community and could not be happier with our choice to send our kids here. This community is simply outstanding and we have grown as a family because of it.

I have experience running my own optometry practice and feel that I will bring a fresh set of ideas to the committee. As a parent with school age children, I have an understanding of what young families perspectives and hopes are for the future of the church. I look forward to using my talents to better the church and grow in my faith.

Pete Asta

3 years in the parish

My name is Pete Asta and with wife of 20 years Kelley, have 3 children ages 15, 13, and 10. We have been parishioners for 6 years and two of our children currently attend Ascension school. I am from the Kansas City area, but have lived in 5 other cities over the past 22 years. Currently, I work as a food scientist for The J.M. Smucker Company leading a team of 12 to support research and development for Hostess products. I appreciate the consideration for the Parish Council. I have been involved in Youth Faith Formation here at Ascension.

I believe I have been blessed with several gifts including logical thinking through complex questions that affect different groups of stakeholders, combined with organizational and project planning to achieve a desired outcome. I desire to serve because I believe these gifts can be put to service to help spread The Gospel through the means Jesus gave us; His Church.