A Man For All Seasons

Join us for a movie night honoring one of the Church’s great martyrs and political reformers, Saint Thomas More. His last words before being beheaded at the order of King Henry VIII were, “I die His Majesty’s good servant, but God’s frst.” Winner of 6 Oscars including Best Picture, the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture, and the BAFTA for Best British Film, A Man for All Seasons depicts what a true reformer and witness for Christ was Saint Thomas More. Join us for this epic movie, fellowship, and discussion!
Cost:$0 (popcorn and lemonade provided)
Date: July 25
Time: 6:30pm Location: St. Matthew/Mark Room

The Letter of St. Paul to the Colossians

There have always been problems in the Church. We are the body of Christ, but we are human and thus we are flawed with concupiscence. Today is no different than the time when this letter was written by Paul to the Colossians. False teachings about cultic practices, rules regarding food and drink, asceticism, and a connection of angels and demons with astral powers plagued the fledgling Church then, and we can see that the more things change with time, the more they remain the same. Let’s see what Paul has to recommend to the Colossians about how to manage these issues, and most importantly his warnings about false teachers in the Church.
When: Sundays, July 7th thru August 4th 2024; 9:30 to 11:00 AM
Where: St. Mark Room
Facilitator: Joyce Grashoff
Cost: $0* Purchase of the book is elective; purchase at Trinity House locally or online, BUT PLEASE REGISTER so that we have adequate space.
Book: We will be using the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible for The Letters of St. Paul to the Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon Commentary, Notes, and Study Questions. (For those of you who joined us for the study of Philippians, we will be continuing on in this same book. See picture.)

Colossians RSVP

Faith Foundations: Morality & Conscience

We all know that right and wrong exist. But, how do we know this and, better yet, how do we apply this truth in our daily lives? Join Fr. Stull for this one-evening class on morality and conscience, Monday, August 5 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. During the evening, we’ll explore the foundations of our societal norms right and wrong, how to form our consciences to live Godly lives, as well as Divine, natural, civil, and other forms of ’law’ and the ’privileges’ and ’obligations’ that stem from them.
Date: Monday, August 5 (one night)
Time: 6:00-7:30 PM
Location: St. Mark Room
Facilitator: Fr. Stull
No Cost

August 5 RSVP

Faith Foundations: Catholic Social Teaching

Most Catholics know we are obligated to help the poor and the needy. Most Catholics know we are to respect all human beings because they are made in the image and likeness of God. But, have we explored the finer points of Catholic social teaching? As part of our Faith, Family, & Freedom series, join Fr. Stull August 12, 19, and 26 from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m., as we explore the seven themes of Catholic social teaching, utilizing primary sources from Pope Leo XIII to Pope Francis. As responsible citizens, we should vote in all elections. As part of this class, we’ll explore “A Voter’s Guide for Catholics,” as our beliefs on social issues are extremely important for electing our local and national leaders.
Day: Mondays (3 weeks)
Date: August 12, 19, 26
Time: 6:00-7:30 PM
Location: St. Mark Room
Facilitator: Fr. Stull
No Cost

Aug 12-26 RSVP

The Family & the New Totalitarianism

The Family & the New Totalitarianism by Michael D. O’Brien “The new totalitarian’s idealism, his humanitarianism, his public image, may communicate to us many good things…We soon find ourselves succumbing to a magnetic attraction, and voting for leaders whose agendas mix admirable elements, and fatal flaws.” Michael D. O’Brien reveals in this book how we got here, and what we can do to take back our control in order to live once more in freedom and democracy in our families and society. Come join in the discussion!
Date: 9/12-10/17
Day: Thursdays
Time: 5:30-7:00 PM
Location: St. Mark Room
Facilitator: Joyce Grashoff
Cost: $0 (Please register so that we have adequate space. Prior to class beginning, please purchase the book, The Family & the New Totalitarianism by Michael D. O’Brien on your own from Divine Providence Press or from Amazon.)

9/12-10/17 RSVP

Can a Catholic be a Socialist?

“Pope Leo XIII wrote of the “harvest of misery” that socialism brings. Pius XI said it’s impossible to be a good Catholic and a good socialist. John Paul II spent his papacy combating socialism’s dehumanizing statism. Yet somehow this long-discredited economic philosophy is making a comeback, not only on college campuses and political talk shows but among sincere Catholics.” Class time will be spent listening to a presentation by Dr. Horn and then spending the rest of class time for open discussion/questions.
Date: October 24
Day: Thursday
Time: 5:30-7:00 PM
Location: St. Mark Room
Facilitator: Joyce Grashoff
Cost: $0 (Please register so that we have adequate space. NO BOOK PURCHASE IS NECESSARY.)

Oct 24 RSVP

The Story of the Family

It is said that sane society is based on the family’s interests because the family is the basic unit of society. G.K. Chesterson wanted to join the Church that would fight for the family. For the rest of his life, he fought for the faith and for the family. Join us in this 3 week series, and be prepared to appreciate the brilliance and wisdom of Chesterton as he explains the history and beauty of the family according to God’s plan and the ideologies, philosophers, sociologists, counselors, and other “elite experts” who are attempting to destroy everyone “because everyone is either a father, a mother, or a child.” Dale Ahlquist.
Duration: 3 weeks
Date: 11-7-11/21
Day: Thursdays
Time: 5:30-7:00 PM
Location: St. Mark Room
Facilitator: Joyce Grashoff
Cost: $0 (Please register so that we have adequate materials and space. Prior to class beginning, please purchase the book, The Story of the Family, by G.K. Chesterton at Trinity House Books and Gifts or at Ignatius.com.)

Nov 7-21 RSVP

A class to promote the many blessings of God’s Divine Mercy. In this study, we will use Vinny Flynn’s book, 7 Secrets of Divine Mercy as a valuable guide to help us understand the wonderful gift of the Divine Mercy message given to St. Faustina for the entire world. He shows how this message fills our hearts with hope and the spark to help change the world to a civilization of love.

The mystery of the Most Holy Trinity is Divine Mercy. It is the fundamental law that dwells within the heart of every person and the bridge that connects God to humanity. This book will help change your prayer life, transform your relationship with the Holy Trinity and also show us how to radiate God’s merciful love to save souls.

Duration: 7 Weeks
Date: 9/5-10/31 (no class on 10/17 & 10/24)
Day: Thursdays
Time: 10:00-11:30 AM
Location: St. Luke Room
Facilitator: Ann Smith
Cost: $0 Pleases register so that we have adequate space. Prior to class, please purchase 7 Secrets of Divine Mercy by Vinny Flynn at Trinity House Catholic Books and Gifts or on Amazon.

Matthew Kelly has a new book on Eucharistic Consecration which will help us prepare for our sacred journey toward out eternal home with God. In his book, Kelly used the journey of saints like Mother Teresa, John Paul II, Maximilian Kolbe and our Blessed Mother to help us experience Jesus in the Eucharist like never before. He believes it is time for us to consecrate ourselves to Jesus in the Eucharist – it is time for Eucharistic Consecration!

Our plan is to use his book and his study guide in a 7-week class on Eucharistic Consecration. These spiritual guides should forever change the way we spend time with Jesus in the Eucharist. There is no better way to receive God’s grace that through the Eucharist. Over these 7-weeks, we will learn how great saints and others lived in Eucharistic Glory which will help us grow in holiness.

Duration: 7 Weeks
Date: 10/10-11/21
Day: Thursdays
Time: 9:30-11:00 AM
Location: St. Mark Room
Facilitator: TBD
Cost: $5 (You will receive your copy of the book at the first class)

Did you know the Church has documents about what types, styles, genres, etc. of music / instruments to use during Mass, the Liturgy of the Hours, and the sacraments? Have you ever wondered what goes into the process of choosing what music will be sung at Mass and when? Have you wondered about the progression of music from pre-Vatican II to Vatican II to post-Vatican II?

Join Fr. Stull on Tuesday, October 29 and Tuesday, November 12 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. for this series on Church music, which will include plenty of listening, study, and time for questions / discussion!

Date: 10/29-11/12
Day: Tuesdays
Time: 6:30-8:00 PM
Location: St. Mark Room
Facilitator: Fr. Stull
Cost: $0

This is our story, our family. As Catholics, we are the inheritors of holy men and women who over two thousand years built a great civilization and spread the gospel throughout the world. The history of the Church is not just the recitation of popes and saints; it is a story of adventure, intrigue, rebellion, reform, and devotion.

In this study you will learn about the important people, places, and events in two thousand years of Church history, presented in twelve easy-to-remember color-coded time periods. You will discover the true stories behind the Crusades, the Spanish Inquisition, and the Protestant Reformation. You will also learn about the massive persecution of Christians in the twentieth century. Throughout, you will be gaining an understanding of the workings of the Holy Spirit in our Church. The better we know our history, the better prepared we will be to face the future.

Date: 9/18-3/5 (no classes on 11/27, 12/18 & 25, and 1/1)
Day: Wednesdays
Time: 10-11:30 AM or 6-7:30 PM
Location: St. Mark Room
Facilitator: Kim Sutton
Cost: $0 (Please register so that we have adequate space. Prior to class, please purchase the book, Epic: Journey Through Church History Workbook – $27.95 from Ascensionpress.com (link in registration confirmation email).

‘The Work of God.’ This is the traditional way to refer to the Church’s second most important prayer . . . the Liturgy of the Hours or the Divine Office. Each day at Ascension, we pray Morning Prayer together prior to the 7:00 a.m. Mass.

If you’ve ever been curious about Morning Prayer, Daytime Prayer, Evening Prayer, and Night Prayer, but don’t know where to start or think it’s a lot of ribbons to juggle in a book, or you’re interested in diving deeper into the Liturgy of the Hours, join Fr. Stull on Tuesday, October 15 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. for this practical talk on the Church’s daily prayer.

Date: 10/15
Day: Tuesday
Time: 6:30-8:00 PM
Location: St. Mark Room
Facilitator: Fr. Stull
Cost: $0

Did you know there isn’t one right way to pray privately? Our individual prayer lives should correspond to what is best for our temperament, state in life, and where we’re at on our spiritual journey. In this class on prayer, we’ll explore the purpose of prayer, the types of prayer, and how to figure out what mode of prayer is best suited to each of us.

Join Fr. Stull on Tuesday, September 17 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. for this talk on prayer to jump-start your prayer life, to deepen your resolve, and maybe learn a few new tips / tricks to enhance your daily prayer!

Date: 9/17
Day: Tuesday
Time: 6:30-8:00 PM
Location: St. Mark Room
Facilitator: Fr. Stull
Cost: $0

Many of us remember learning about the seven sacraments in our CCD program at church as kids. We can surely list the sacraments and know generally what they’re about / for. But, there’s more to them than just that.

Join Fr. Stull on Tuesday, October 1 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. for this talk on the sacraments in which we’ll utilize Saint Thomas Aquinas’s writings to dive deeper into the beauty, mystery, and power of these ‘ordinary’ means of our sanctification!

Date: 10/1
Day: Tuesday
Time: 6:30-8:00 PM
Location: St. Mark Room
Facilitator: Fr. Stull
Cost: $0

First Corinthians: The Church and the Christian Community – St. Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians addresses many of the same topics in the news headlines today: scandals, promiscuity, debates and controversies, and issues related to prosperity versus poverty. Clearly, the struggles faced by the early Christians are in many ways similar to our own.

First Corinthians: The Church and the Christian Community explores the key elements of the gospel message that Paul introduced to a new and growing Church. Presenter Tim Gray examines Paul’s advice for living an authentic Christian life in a pagan culture, as well as his teachings about the nature of grace, the Church as the body of Christ, and the most powerful gift of all—the Eucharist.

Date: 9/8-11/10
Day: Sundays
Time: 9:30-11:00 AM
Location: St. Mark Room
Facilitator: Joyce Grashoff
Cost: $0 (Please register so that we have adequate materials and space. NO BOOK PURCHASE IS NECESSARY

Jesus: The Way, the Truth, and the Life is a ten-week small group study program presented by Marcellino D’Ambrosio, Jeff Cavins, and Edward Sri.

Filmed on-location in the Holy Land and anchored in the life of Christ as presented in the Gospels, this study explores the entirety of Jesus’ life—who he is, what he is really like, what he taught, what he did for our salvation, and what all of this means for us as Catholics today.

Date: 9/10-11/12
Day: Tuesdays
Time: 10-11:30 AM
Location: St. Mark Room
Facilitator: Tamara James
Cost: $0 (Please register so that we have adequate space.)

Prior to class, please purchase the Jesus: The Way, the Truth, and the Life WORKBOOK ($27.95) from Ascensionpress.com (link in confirmation email).

Also recommended, the companion book by Dr. Marcelino D’Ambrosio. Both books are available from Ascensionpress.com (several purchase options available, including e-book and Study Sets).

Many parishioners enjoyed diving deeper into each part of the Mass last year with Bishop Barron in his video series. Now, for your convenience, we are offering this 7-week course in one day! Come spend a Saturday watching and discussing Bishop Barron’s videos on “The Mass”.

You might plan to stay after the retreat and attend the 4:30 PM Mass to see if you notice a difference in your understanding and participation of the Mass after enjoying this video series.

Date: 9/7
Day: Saturday
Time: 9:15 AM – 4:00 PM
Location: St. Mark Room
Facilitators: Kim Sutton / Liz Willman
Cost: $25 (Includes continental breakfast, lunch, and materials)

Fr. Colm lead this study of the four cardinal virtues: prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance and why practicing a life of virtue leads to happiness and fulfillment.

Duration: 5 weeks, every-other-week
Date: 9/10, 9/24, 10/8, 10/22, and 11/5
Day: Tuesdays
Time: 6:30-8:00 PM
Location: St. Mark Room
Facilitator: Fr. Colm
Cost: $0 (Please register so that we have adequate space.)

You CAN rebuild after divorce. It just takes a blueprint! Whether you’ve recently divorced or it’s been a few years, you can rebuild a life rich in faith, hope, and lots of love. But first you’ll need blueprints, clear directions to make your house a home again. Where should you start?

By laying a solid foundation that will hold up under the drizzle of daily life and any raging storms that may come. And the cornerstone of that foundation is Christ.

Duration: 8 weeks
Date: 9/10-10/29
Day: Tuesdays
Time: 7:00-8:30 PM
Location: St. John Room
Facilitators: Pam Novosel / Julie Cruz
Cost: $0 (Please register so that we have adequate space. Prior to class, Please purchase the book, Rebuilding After Divorce – Making Your House a Home, by Rose Sweet at Trinity House Catholic Books and Gifts or on Amazon.)

CUSTOS is a one-of-a kind 33 day consecration spiritual boot-camp that helps men who are or will be fathers to encounter the real St. Joseph, walk with him, and become like him.

A unique combination of daily biblical reflections based on St. Joseph, daily prayers and spiritual practices, CUSTOS is a powerful way to experience personal and relational transformation.

Join us as we come together to share our faith and best practices while learning how to grow closer to Christ through St. Joseph.

Duration: 6 weeks
Date: 9/24 – 10/29
Day: Tuesdays
Time: 7:00-8:30 PM
Location: St. Luke Room
Facilitator: Mike Menghini
Cost: $0 (Please register so that we have adequate space. Prior to class, please purchase the book, CUSTOS: Total Consecration Through St. Joseph at Trinity House Books and Gifts or at The Fathers of St. Joseph website linked in your confirmation email.)

There have always been problems in the Church. We are the body of Christ, but we are human and thus we are flawed with concupiscence. Today is no different than the time when this letter was written by Paul to the Colossians. False teachings about cultic practices, rules regarding food and drink, asceticism, and a connection of angels and demons with astral powers plagued the fledgling Church then, and we can see that the more things change with time, the more they remain the same. Let’s see what Paul has to recommend to the Colossians about how to manage these issues, and most importantly his warnings about false teachers in the Church.

When: Sundays, July 7th thru August 4th 2024; 9:30 to 11:00 AM
Where: St. Mark Room
Facilitator: Joyce Grashoff
Cost: $0* Purchase of the book is elective; purchase at Trinity House locally or online, BUT PLEASE REGISTER so that we have adequate space.
Book: We will be using the Ignatius Catholic Study Bible for The Letters of St. Paul to the Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon Commentary, Notes, and Study Questions. (For those of you who joined us for the study of Philippians, we will be continuing on in this same book. See picture.)

We’ve lost our Christian story. . .
Let’s get it back!
We live our lives according to the stories we believe. What if there is a different story? What if there is a story that will help make sense of the world? THAT STORY IS THE GOSPEL! Fr. John Riccardo and The Rescue Project will help us get our story back. We invite you to attend The Rescue Project small-group style class over an 8-week period this summer and finally learn exactly what the gospel is, what Jesus did, and what we are now called to do.

This class is for:
*People in the pews
*Fallen away Christians
*Nones (those who describe their religion as “nothing in particular”)
*Teenagers and up

Day/Times: Wednesdays 9:30-11:30 am OR 6:00-8:00 pm
Dates: June 12- August 14 (no class July 3rd and 31st)
Location: St. Mark Room
Facilitator: Kim Sutton
Cost: $10 (including the Companion Guide to be received at the first class)

Are you or someone you know interested in becoming Catholic? Join us for classes to see if this is right for you! We will meet on Monday nights to present basic topics of the faith and grow in our relationship with God. Adults are welcomed into the Church at Easter in the spring. We also would love to have parishioners volunteer to serve as a sponsor for someone going through RCIA.

Information Night
Monday August 12, 2024 5:30-6:30pm in St. Luke Room

Regular day and time: Mondays 5:30pm-7:30pm
First regular session: September 16
Location: St. Mark Room
No Cost

Register

Join us on the 1st & 3rd Fridays of every month at 1:00pm as we work slowly through The Bible in a Year and The Catechism in a Year with Fr. Mike Schmitz. We will begin on Friday, February 2, 2024.

The schedule will typically include 4 sessions per week. Lessons are done at home on YouTube. The total time per week will be about 160 minutes which averages to 11-12 minutes per day with time off for Holy Week.

Register

Are you currently transitioning from college into adulthood? Are you looking for an opportunity where you can dig deeper into your Catholic faith while bonding with other young adults on fire for Christ? Then consider joining Disciples Dwelling (DD) – Ascension’s young adult weekly small group study. We discuss upcoming Sunday Mass readings followed by a fellowship activity – with occasional DD functions on weekends.

Ongoing Bible Study for a passionate group of Catholic Young Adults, ages 21-35
Thursdays: 7:00PM – 8:30 PM
Location: Youth Center
Facilitator: Rachel Sevart an Brooke Kramer
No Cost

If you feel called to learn more about joining Disciples Dwelling, look us up on Facebook or contact Rachel Sevart for more information.

Are you looking for a way to get more meaning out of Mass? If so, join with other men of the parish to meet each week and discuss the upcoming Sunday Mass readings. This group discusses the Sunday readings followed by discussion on their applicability to the lives of men. New members are invited to join at any time.

Fridays: 6:00 AM – 7:00 AM
Date: Ongoing
Location: St. Mark Room
Facilitator: Ken Jennison
No Cost

Through authentic friendships, prayer, family activities, and community service, we hope to encourage and equip fellow mothers in the beauty and traditions of the Catholic Faith. If you are a mother of a young child (pregnancy through second grade), then you are invited to join us the first Thursday of each month at 7:00pm in the St. John Room. Check our webpage and bulletin for additional events throughout the year as well.

More Info