Common Home Ministry Presents:                                                          Laudato Si’
Creation Care: A Call to Action for People of Faith
Wednesday, May 29th 7 pm
Church of the Ascension: Parish Hall
9510 W 127th St. Overland Park, KS
Pope Francis challenged us all with one simple question in 2015: “What kind of world do you want to leave those who come after us, to children who are now growing up?” As we approach the fourth anniversary of the release of his groundbreaking Laudato Si encyclical, all people of faith are called to evaluate our response to this question. Msgr. Stuart Swetland will tackle what exactly Pope Francis is calling us to and what we can do to answer that challenge.
Msgr. Stuart W. Swetland, S.T.D., was ordained a priest in 1991. He received his undergraduate degree in Physics from the U.S. Naval Academy. Elected a Rhodes Scholar in 1981, he entered the Catholic Church while studying Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Oxford. He has a B.A. and M.A. from Oxford; a M.Div. and M.A. from Mount St. Mary’s Seminary; and his S.T.L. and S.T.D. from the Pontifical Lateran University. He has an honorary Doctorate in from Benedictine College in Atchison, KS. He currently serves as the President of Donnelly College in Kansas City, KS, where he is also Professor of Leadership and Christian Ethics. He also hosts the television show Catholicism on Campus on EWTN and Go Ask Your Father on Relevant Radio.
                     

Take the Challenge, Ascension!

Say “NO” to Single-Use Plastics

These are ideas that you and your family can pledge to do in response to Pope Francis’ call for us to “counteract the throwaway culture which affects the entire planet.”

• Refuse/say NO to disposable plastic whenever and wherever possible. Choose items that are not packaged in plastic, and carry your own bags, containers and utensils. Say, “no straw, please.”
• Reuse durable, non-toxic straws, utensils, to-go containers, bottles, bags, and other everyday items. Choose glass, paper, stainless steel, wood, ceramic and bamboo over plastic
• Reduce your plastic footprint. Cut down on your consumption of goods that contain excessive plastic packaging and parts. If it will leave behind plastic trash, don’t buy it.

 Recycle what you can’t refuse, reduce or reuse. Pay attention to the entire life cycle of items you bring into your life, from source to manufacturing to distribution to disposal.

Participate in a beach, stream, river, park, road cl

Support local bans on single-use plastic bags and Styrofoam.

Avoid microbeads: Tiny plastic particles, called “microbeads,” are a growing source of ocean plastic pollutition.  Microbeads are found in some face scrubs, toothpastes, and body washes, and they readily enter our oceans and waterways through our sewer systems. Avoid products containing plastic microbeads by looking for “polythelene” and “polypropylene” on the ingredient labels of your cosmetic products.

YOU CAN HELP COUNTERACT A THROW AWAY CULTURE!

Watch the 5 minute video featuring Pope Francis by either visiting the YouTube link below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zYE36pcbXs&feature=youtu.be

From Pope Francis’ Encyclical, Laudato Si:

“Living our vocation to be protectors of God’s handiwork is essential to a life of virtue; it is not an optional or secondary aspect of our Christian experience.” 

Click Here for “Do One Thing Video” to help understand how everyone doing one thing can change our world for the better and help all of us conserve and be responsible for our Earth.

A Prayer for Our Earth

All-powerful God, you are present in the whole universe and in the smallest of your creatures.
You embrace with your tenderness all that exists. Pour out upon us the power of your love,
that we may protect life and beauty.  Fill us with peace, that we may live as brothers and sisters, harming no one. O God of the poor, help us to rescue the abandoned and forgotten of this earth, so precious in your eyes. Bring healing to our lives, that we may protect the world and not prey on it,
that we may sow beauty, not pollution and destruction. Touch the hearts of those who look only for gain at the expense of the poor and the earth. Teach us to discover the worth of each thing, to be filled with awe and contemplation, to recognize that we are profoundly united
with every creature as we journey towards your infinite light. We thank you for being with us each day. Encourage us, we pray, in our struggle for justice, love and peace.  Pope Francis Laudato Si

Please join Ascension’s Common Home Ministry in celebrating the Feast Day of St. Francis, the Patron Saint of Ecology!  We will be helping to care for the gift of God’s creation by cleaning up at Quivira Park and the stream and trail areas adjacent to it. Date: sometime Fall, 2019.  You will receive an assigned area to clean up, along with gloves and trash bags, provided by the City of Overland Park.  Kids can earn one service hour (non-corporal)  Treats provided afterwards!                                                                              What to bring:

• Your Ascension Volunteer T-shirt, or pick one up at the park!
• Your own refillable water bottle from home (coolers with water will be provided.)
• Appropriate clothing and foot ware

There are plenty of open and easy-to-navigate park and trail areas for all ages to participate in cleaning.  However, if you’re willing to clean around streams and more heavily wooded areas, consider wearing long pants and sleeves and bringing bug spray.    Parents must supervise children at all times.

Thanks for caring for our Common Home!!If you are looking for ways to get involved at Ascension and/or care for the environment, we’d love you to join us!  If interested or for questions about the Common Home Ministry, please contact Jean in the office

Corporal Works of Mercy: Give Drink to the Thirsty

• Listen to the sound of abortion
• Testimonial of a mom who used the pregnancy center we support

Mary, we pray today for all mothers who are afraid to be mothers.
We pray for those who feel threatened and overwhelmed by their pregnancy.
Intercede for them, that God may give them the grace to say yes and the courage to go on.
May they have the grace to reject the false solution of abortion.
May they say with you, “Be it done according to your word”.
May they experience the help of Christian people, and know the peace that comes from doing God’s will. Amen. 

Annual Pro-Life Banquets

See Registration information below. Provide your contact information, specify Church of the Ascension, Table Host as Cindy Whitney (Respect Life Committee).  Contact for questions or additional information. cmwhitney@everestkc.net   913-777-6493.   All banquets have a Silent Auction, and an opportunity to make a donation.  It is suggested that at minimal, a donation be made to cover the cost of the meal.

2019

Wyandotte/Olathe Pregnancy Clinics “Evening for Life”
Date: Thursday, September 5, 2019
Time:  5:30pm Cash Bar/Silent Auction 6:30pm-8:30pm Dinner and Program
Location: Overland Park Convention Center
6000 College Blvd, Overland Park, KS
Featured Speaker: Ashley Bratcher, who plays Abby Johnson in the movie “Unplanned”! 
To Register:  www.babiesatrisk.org
All Events/Info:
Help: www.olathepregnancyclinic.org

2020

Kansans for Life (KFL) Valentine’s Banquet
Date: February, 2020 – Date TBD
Time:  TBD   Cash Bar/Silent Auction   Dinner and Program
Location: TBD  Featured Speaker: TBD
To Register:
All Events/Info: www.kfl.org/
Help: http://www.kfl.org/resources_pregnancy_needassistance.html

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Life Runners

Ascension’s Pro Life Ministry is forming a team with Life Runners.  At life runners.org, on the sign up page (liferunners.org/join) there is an option to choose a chapter and from that drop down you will see Church of the Ascension listed as a chapter. Fill this out.  Then after you have registered, you can buy a shirt.  Please alert jean at jhinman@kcascension.org when you have registered.

The MISSION: Prayer and teamwork to cross the finish line that ends abortion. VALUES: Keep the Faith, Respect Life from Conception to Natural Death, Run so as to Win.

TEAM: Teammates ages 1 to 101 in all 50 states and 35 nations.  Running optional.  Faith required. We believe in the dignity of all human life from conception to natural death.

We run as a Prayer, to defend children in the womb, so that they may be born and united with our Christian community. We run to build Endurance, for the race is long and we must keep our eyes fixed on You Lord.
We run for Awareness, so our culture will view all human life as a reflection of Your glory Lord. We run for Charity, to provide support for mothers and fathers tempted to abort their child, and healing support for post-abortion women, men and families. We run to End abortion, for Christ died so that all may live. Guard us all, born and unborn, with Your PEACE, Lord. For in You, life is victorious. We pray and run in Your name, Jesus Christ. Amen.

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Adoration Hour

The Respect Life Ministry has one weekly hour of Adoration.  Our hope is that volunteers will sign up as an opportunity to pray for all LIFE issues. The time is every Saturday from 4:00-5:00 p.m.  This is a opportunity to be with Christ peacefully – either alone or as a family!
Adoration Sign Up

Different Activites we do through the year:

The Respect Life Ministry, along with the Knights, are sponsoring The Baby Bottle Boomerang to raise needed funds for the Wyandotte and Olathe Pregnancy Clinics and Advice and Aid.  The clinics, sponsored by the Archdiocese, provide services at no cost to women and families dealing with an unplanned pregnancy (and that care can continue for the first few years.) PLEASE use this as an educational opportunity for your family to discuss how this donation helps families and helps save babies!

40 Days for Life …Coming in the Spring) a groundbreaking, coordinated, international pro-life mobilization to end abortion in our city – and beyond. You’re invited to peacefully pray during a 40-day vigil outside of the Women’s Health Center abortion clinic, located at 4840 College Boulevard in Overland Park, Kansas. Please help spread the word about this important community outreach. For more information, visit the 40 Days for Life website: www.40daysforlife.com/overlandpark.  40 Days for Life:  Sign up to peacefully and prayerfully protest abortion.  Ascension covers 2 full days with at least 2 people per hour.  Click here to take an hour.

A CATHOLIC RESPONSE TO THE DEATH PENALTY

ADOPTIVE FAMILIES NEEDED!
See our Web page for fostering opportunities

We have a hidden jewel in our Archdiocese. We have an adoption agency located in KC, KS that has an excellent record of finding babies for adoptive parents. Currently, the average wait time for approved prospective parents is only seven months.

St Joseph Adoption Ministry has been placing babies with Catholic adoptive parents across the nation since 2001.Sister Dolora May is the executive director They have developed a national network with adoption professionals which affords them with access to babies born across the United States.

They could place more babies if they had more prospective parents!! This is truly a hidden jewel. For more information on SJAM go to their web site at www.CatholicAdoptionMinistry.org . Please spread this good news!

Roses for Life Campaign and Rose Procession: Jan 2020:   We do on Sanctity of Life Sunday  where we commemorate Roe v Wade and we send notices to State Legislators:  click here to help with signups the week of Jan 6th  Click here to be in procession representing the year you were born on   10 am and 5 pm Masses

LIFE CHAIN:  (1st weekend in October) is a nationwide peaceful, prayerful hour of prayer on public sidewalks supporting the dignity of and right  to life.

Pack ‘n Play Collections:  Respect Life Ministry is out to help stock area pregnancy centers where girls or women go who are experiencing an unplanned pregnancy. Giving hope sometimes looks like a blankey!  Need: crib sheets, baby clothes, onesies, jammies,” wearable” blankets, diapers, wipes, anything for a new born up to age 1 (Done 2nd weekend in  October)

We support the Gabriel Project also.The Gabriel Project is a ministry providing help to pregnant women in need. A “Good Samaritan” approach towards helping women in a crisis pregnancy.  

Links

• We need to be the field hospital not Judge Judy (Homily by the Archbishop of Boston
• Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas Pro Life Website
• USCCB Pro Life Activities
• Project Rachel/Project Joseph – Healing After Abortion

Each Monday Morning one of our ministry members will work from a check sheet to tidy up the church. A typical day is started in the Parish Office picking up our cart (full of items that may need restocking in the areas we tend to) and check sheet.

We then check around areas in the church to see if there is anything that looks out of place of needs tidying. Areas of concern are the Gathering area, cry room, Bride’s room, Bathrooms, Sanctuary and Sacristy, Adoration Chapel, Adult Community Room, Adult Faith room and the Reception area.

Supplies are then inventoried and the cart is restocked. When we return to the Office we review the needs of supplies and notify any maintenance issues we find.

Monday Morning Marthas is a great honor, making our Church, community room, and faith rooms neat and pleasant for those we extend a welcome to!

Contact Jean Hinman with any questions or for further information on how to get involved at jhinman@kcascension.org.

MOYC provides all Ascension Catholic mothers with children of second grade age and younger with spiritual enrichment to strengthen faith and friendships through fellowship, prayer, family activities and community service. We encourage and welcome all mothers of young children who are interested in fostering Catholic values and traditions in their families to join with us. MOYC meets the first Thursday of  the month at 7:00pm. Contact any of the following 2019-2020 Board Members with questions!

Co-Chairs
Mandy Uhlmansiek at 602-790-2781 or amanda.uhlmansiek@gmail.com
Colleen Stack at 913-231-1672 or colleenksu@gmail.com
Membership
Amy Threlkeld at 913-238-1899 or amy.threlkeld@me.com

Membership is only a few clicks away!
Please complete this online MOYC enrollment form and you may also click the button below to pay the annual membership fee.
Pay Dues Online

OUR MISSION

Mothers of Young Children (MOYC) provides all Catholic mothers of children of second grade age and younger with spiritual enrichment to strengthen faith and friendships through fellowship, prayer, family activities and community service.

Monthly Meetings

We meet for fellowship, faith and friendship on the first Thursday of the month at 7pm in the lower level. Each month we will have an activity or a speaker relevant to mothers raising Catholic families.

Spiritual Enrichment

Our faith and spirituality are the guiding principles of MOYC’s mission. We value building friendships with Catholic moms and expecting moms through prayer, reflection and discussion. During the monthly meetings, we offer prayer, bible study and rosary group.  We also participate in Adoration and monthly Moms at Mass.  We encourage and support other faith-filled experiences within our parish as as well.

Moms’ Night Out

Our adult activities provide an opportunity to gather for more friendship and fellowship in various locations around town each month. Join us for good food and great times!

Children’s Playgroups and Outings

Playgroups are organized into small groups based on your children’s ages and are hosted in various members’ homes or your playgroup’s choice. Please contact the playgroup chairperson to join! Children’s outings are open to all members each month and provide another opportunity to build friendships while visiting a wide variety of places and events throughout the area. Activities are organized to accommodate both stay-at-home moms’ & working moms’ schedules.

Children’s Parties

We host two children’s parties for MOYC families each year—Halloween and Valentine’s Day. These are a great opportunity for families to celebrate together.  MOYC also hosts the parish-wide Advent Family Festival and Easter Egg Hunt, giving our time and talent to the parish community.

 

 Little Angels

Each June we host a one-week miniature vacation bible school for MOYC children. Each day we meet for one hour in the lower level for a bible study, songs, crafts and snack.

Community Service

MOYC engages in various community service projects each year to support other mothers, our parish and our community. New moms and those dealing with unexpected situations within the group receive meals from other MOYC moms. We also encourage and support various groups within our area specific to mothers, young children and families.

Support of Ascension Activities

MOYC is in charge of coordinating, prepping and setting up the Kids’ Korner area at Mardi Gras, our parish-wide fundraiser.  We also support the annual Parish Picnic.