Joyful Hope Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, Today we begin the Season of Advent, that season in the life of the Church when we reflect on the Lord’s coming: His first coming as an infant in Bethlehem and His return in glory at the end of days. The Season of Advent invites us to embrace in joyful hope what lies ahead; encountering the Lord in the Christmas Season, in word and sacrament, in prayerful reflection of what it means that God has come to save His people. But also in our life task of preparing to see Him face to face when He returns in glory like he has promised. Advent in a sens ..read more

King Forever Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, On the last Sunday of each liturgical year, the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Christ the King. Pope Pius XI instituted this feast in 1925 with his encyclical Quas Primas (“In the first”) to respond to growing nationalism and secularism. He recognized that these related societal ills would breed increasing hostility against the Church. His encyclical reminds the faithful that while governments and philosophies come and go, Christ reigns as king forever. Secularism divides our public selves from our private selves.  When governments li ..read more

Children of the Light Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, In today’s second reading, St. Paul implies that those of us who claim the name Christian should not be like the unbeliever, fearful and caught off guard when the Lord returns at the end of days. St. Paul says, “But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness, for that day to overtake you like a thief.  For all of you are children of the light and children of the day… Therefore, let us not sleep as the rest do, but let us stay alert and sober.” St. Paul is assuming that those who have been baptized now see the world diffe ..read more

Stay Awake! Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, As the Church approaches the end of the liturgical year (a new liturgical year starts with the first Sunday of Advent), the scripture readings at Mass tend to take on themes that relate to the end of days and Christ’s second coming. Today we hear Jesus tell us to “stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour” when the Bridegroom will come.  The Bridegroom of course, being Jesus who will return to claim his Bride, the Church.  The second reading from St. Paul’s Letter to the Thessalonians also makes reference to the Lord’s ret ..read more

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All is Gift Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus tells us to give due respect to those in authority, but not to imitate hypocrisy. The Jewish leaders “have taken their seat on the chair of Moses”, and thus, they possess authority, and the Jews were to be obey their teaching of the Law. But Jesus warns that just because they hold an important position, does not mean that we should always imitate their actions. They might not practice what they preach.   In the New Testament Letter of James we hear, “Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding ..read more

Written By: John Menghini Recently, we have installed three beautiful icons in our Adoration Chapel. The first icon, which was hung December 2022, is of the “Crucifixion of the Lord.” The second icon, “The Resurrection” was hung in April 2023. Our most recent icon, “Ascension of Our Lord” was hung in October 2023. All three icons were created by an iconographer from Coronado, California by the name of Maidie Weisbarth. Please stop by the Adoration Chapel and see the most recent addition to our collection of Holy Icons. This long awaited icon, “written” by the iconographer Maidie Weisbarth, is ..read more

Active, Vocal, & Morally Consistent Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, The Gospel for today utters the oft-repeated line from Jesus, “repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” Below is an excerpt from a review by Salt and Light TV of Archbishop Charles Chaput’s book “Render Unto Caesar” published in 2009. “Few topics in recent years have ignited as much public debate as the balance between religion and politics. Does religious thought have any place in political discourse? Do religious believers have the right to turn their values into political action? Wha ..read more

Our purpose is to encourage and facilitate deeper involvement in Mass and parish events for individuals and families with special needs. More information coming soon. Return to F&WM webpage The post Fearfully & Wonderfully Made | Mass & Parish Events appeared first on Church of the Ascension ..read more

Our purpose is to provide Catholic based social and faith functions for adult individuals 18+ and over with special needs ranging from Autism to Intellectual Disabilities.    More information coming soon. Return to F&WM webpage The post Fearfully & Wonderfully Made | Social & Adult Faith appeared first on Church of the Ascension ..read more