Parish Council Nominees & Voting
The Parish Pastoral Council is in need of two new elected members. As a parish, we are asked to elect members onto this consultative body to assist Fr. Gary in fostering pastoral activities and provide for continued growth of the parish. Please take the time to read the biographies of these four nominees. Electronic voting is available April 17-19. We ask that each person only vote once.
My wife, Stephanie, and I are grateful to be raising our two sons, Luke (8) and Noah (6), here at Church of the Ascension. Our family joined the parish in 2021 after moving nearby, and our boys participate in Youth Faith Formation. Like many families, we stay busy with sports and activities, but we try to be intentional about growing in our faith together and staying connected to parish life. I am a member of the Knights of Columbus and attend the 8:15 or 10:00 Sunday Mass, as well as daily Mass during the week. Prior to joining Ascension, we were parishioners at Prince of Peace, where I served as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion and as Co-Spiritual Director for the Christ Renews His Parish men’s retreat team. I am also a proud graduate of St. Thomas Aquinas and served on the school’s Alumni Council for several years. Professionally, I have worked at Burns and McDonnell for 15 years and currently serve as a Talent Acquisition Manager. I care deeply about strong Catholic community and would be honored to support our pastor and help foster the continued growth of Ascension as a welcoming and faith-filled parish for families and all parishioners.
My family and I have been parishioners at Ascension for the past three and a half years. My wife, Erin, and I have been married 21 years and have four children: Matthew (20), Charlotte (18), Evelyn (16), and Benjamin (14), an 8th grader at Ascension Catholic School. I retired as a Colonel from the U.S. Army in 2023 after a 28-year career and now work as an Operations Manager for Onebrief supporting the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth. I’ve remained active in various parishes over the years as an adult altar server, usher, lector and Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion; here at Ascension, I am an active 3rd Degree Knight of Columbus. I’m seeking a role on the Pastoral Council to help support the parish mission and strengthen our faith community.
I want to serve on the Pastoral Council to give back to the community that has supported my family over the past three and a half years. Having been part of many parishes during my Army career, I deeply value the stability and faith community Ascension provides and want to help ensure it remains strong and faithful. As a father of four, including a student at Ascension Catholic School, I bring a parent’s perspective and a strong commitment to supporting our parish families, youth, and mission through service.
I am Dr. Michel Sportsman. I have been a member of Ascension almost from its establishment. I have been a lifelong educator and education administration leader in both public education and in Catholic Schools.
Here at Ascension, I am a Eucharistic Minister of Holy Communion and have been on the perpetual adoration team. I was a part of the renowned Team 33 for Christ Renews His Parish. I was also the middle school English Language Arts teacher at Ascension Catholic School for six years.
I look forward to having the opportunity to serve on the Parish Pastoral Council as a retired member of this faith community.
I moved to Overland Park in 1986 and retired from Burns & McDonnell in 2014. I came into the Catholic Church in 2004. Since then, I have been on several mission trips to places including El Salvador, the Holy Land, Medjugorje, and Mexico. I graduated from the School of Faith Spiritual Mentor program and have been a board member with the KCK Serra Club. I have two children and eight grandchildren.
At Ascension, I have been on the Christ Renews His Parish Team 13 and the Alpha team that went to Salina. I was the Enflame delegate in 2020 and Archbishop’s Synod delegate in 2025. I am a 4th degree Knight where I’ve served as the Pro-Life Chair and the Spiritual Director. Finally, I serve on the Vocations Committee.
After completing the Spiritual Mentor Program, I’ve gained some experience as a mentor, both for young men and in the prison ministry. The National Eucharistic Congress also brought new meaning to me as a Catholic living through the Eucharist. The Archbishop’s initiative for Synodality is a call for each of us to participate more deeply in our faith through the Church and our parish community. I believe I can best support that initiate working through the Pastoral Council.
