Parish Office Phone ................................... (701) 223-3606 Hours (Mon.-Fri.) ............... 8:30 am-4:00 pm Education Office ............................ 258-5692 Fax ................................................. 223-5783 E-mail .......... ascension@midconetwork.com Web .......................... ascensionbismarck.org

Pastoral Staff Rev. Msgr. Jim Braaten…………..….Pastor Ray Grabar……………………………Deacon Tony Finneman……………………...Deacon Doyle Schulz…………………………Deacon James Foertsch…..…… Business Manager Kathy Lewis………………... Music & Liturgy

Jan Sitter………………..……….Bookkeeper Julie Luger & Rita Ritter ........... Secretaries Bob Urlacher…………………. Maintenance

Eucharistic Liturgies Saturday ........................................... 5:00 pm Sunday ...................... 8:00, 9:30 & 11:00 am Weekdays (Mon.-Fri.) ....................... 8:00 am Holy Days ....................... 8:00 am & 7:00 pm

Sacraments Reconciliation Tuesday-Friday ........... Before 8:00 am Mass Saturday .................................. 3:30-4:30 pm Baptisms Please call the Parish Office to schedule. If possible, contact the office three months prior to the due date. Marriage Arrangements are to be made with the Pastor at least nine months prior to the wedding.

Newcomers

Welcome to the Parish! Contact the Parish Office to register.

As a people of God, of Ascension Catholic

Parish, we are united by Baptism and

committed to meeting the needs of our

faith community. In union with the whole

Church, we will build the Kingdom of

God by proclaiming the Good News,

worshipping God, creating community,

and promoting social justice.

1825 SOUTH 3RD STREET • BISMARCK, ND 58504

Ascension C H U R C H O F T H E

April 23, 2017

Pastor’sNotes

FaithFormationNews

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!

June 5th-8th from 1:00 to 4:00 pm at Cathedral

Join us for a Cat Chat VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL, June 5-8 from 1:00-4:00PM at the Cathedral! VBS is for children entering Kindergarten through 5th grade this upcoming fall. Registration forms are available in the church entrance and on our parish website www.ascensionbismarck.org. Cost is $30 per child. Registration form and payment are due to the parish office by Wednesday, May 3.

Volunteers are needed to help with VBS. We need current 5th grade -12th grade students to serve as Crew Leaders (counts as three stewardship service projects for Confirmation) and adults to serve as Station Leaders. For any questions regarding VBS or to sign up to help, please contact Beth Kathol at 258-5692 or bkathol@ascensionbismarck.org.

9TH

GRADE CONFIRMATION PRACTICE

Wednesday, April 26th at 7:00 pm in the Church

All students preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation taking place on Friday, May 5, are required to come with their sponsor or a parent to practice on Wednesday, April 26th. Classes for grades 1-8 will take place as normal.

ParishNotes

SPRING DINNER

Ascension’s Annual Spring Dinner will be held on Sunday, April 30th from 4:00 to 7:00 pm. The meal prices are $9.00 for adults and $5.00 for children ages 5-12. Many volunteers are needed to make this event a success. The sign-up sheets are in the church foyer. If you are not able to sign up at the church and would like to volunteer, please call the parish office at 223-3606 or email ascensionbismarck.org.

9TH

GRADE OVERNIGHT CONFIRMATION RETREAT

Saturday, April 29 to Sunday, April 30 at Badlands Ministries in Medora All 9th grade Confirmation candidates are required to attend this overnight retreat in Medora as part of their final period of preparation. This retreat is an opportunity for our candidates to grow closer to Christ, understand more fully what the Sacrament of Confirmation will mean for their life, and have fun as a community of believers. Bus departure will take place at 7:00 am sharp from the church parking lot and will return on Sunday at approximately 4:00 pm. Please keep our candidates in your prayers!

On behalf of the Ascension Parish Staff and myself, THANK YOU to the many parishioners who have been involved in decorating

the church, preparing music and song, ministering to the parish family in Christ’s name. . .others who have assisted in teaching

our children the ‘true’ meaning of Easter. My personal thanks for your prayers/spiritual bouquets, Easter cards, and gifts. May

God Bless all of you! Monsignor Jim Braaten, Pastor

GOD’S SHARE APPEAL

The Annual God’s Share appeal supports the work of the Catholic Church in western North Dakota. Your gift to this year’s God’s Share Appeal in two weeks will provide for the educational, pastoral and religious programs and services that help our parish and our families. This is your special opportunity to join a unified effort in the Diocese of Bismarck to further Christ’s mission and ministry in our diocese. Please take a moment to consider the many blessings that God has bestowed upon you and your family and prayerfully consider what you are able to share in support of our Diocesan Church.

5:00 PM 8:00 AM 9:30 AM 11:00 AM

Count Offering Team #4

Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion

Meredith Holt—Plate Marlene Zimmerman—Plate Cheryl LaBonte—Plate Andrew LaBonte—Plate Linda Charbonneau—Cup Sharon Finneman—Cup** Ellen Holt—Cup**

Pete Baumgartner—Plate Rose Senger—Plate Michelle Schmidt—Plate** Phyllis Silbernagel—Cup**

Scott LeBlanc—Plate Doug Mormann—Plate Susan Mormann—Plate Paulette Heringer—Plate** Dan Hopfauf—Cup** Deb Wald—Cup Rod Wald—Cup

Sue Mock—Plate Shirley Schafer—Plate Kiaya Schwab—Plate Melanie Schwab—Plate Jay Uhlman—Cup Rosie Dingus—Cup** Julie Ness—Cup**

Hospitality

Mike Kern Joletta Kern Lil Krance

Al Lick Greg Power Larry Slabik

Bob Heringer Leo Vetter Bernie Vetter

Jadynn Flowers Howell Flowers Kimi Flowers

Lector Irene Howard Phyllis Silbernagel Brent Freese Donna Davidson

Altar Server Katrice Kern Matthew Volk

Karston Kellar Jami Bachmeier Trey Haberlock Erica Haberlock

Video/Audio Operator Brandon Holt Patrick Kellar Val Frank Carissa Pieterick

Music Ministry

Joan Backes Sally Dasinger Pat Anderson

Kathy Lewis Lynne Dolajak

Jeanne Jankowski Mary Bachmeier

Mike Langer Cindy Bleth Keylee Hertz Barnett

Serving the Assembly April 29th and 30th: 3rd Sunday of Easter

AdultFaithFormation

FORMED.ORG FEATURE OF THE WEEK

DIVINE MERCY – VIDEO Renowned speaker and author Fr. Michael Gaitley tells the dramatic history of God’s love and mercy as interwoven through the transformative message of St. Faustina, the miraculous appearance of Mary at Fatima, the witness of Maximilian Kolbe, and the world-changing papacy of Pope St. John Paul II. Featuring the brilliant cinematic artistry of the Augustine Institute’s film studio, the vast panorama of God’s work of mercy in the world unfolds as a story to be experienced. Our parish offers this online subscription to all of our parishioners as a free gift. Go to www.formed.org and register with our parish code: Z79KWG. There are movies, books, audio presentations and programs for the whole family!

Registration for the 2017-2018 school year is now open! We offer classes for Pre-K (half and full day programs for ages 3-5), Kindergarten, Grades 1-5, Academy (grades 6-8) and High School (grades 9-12). Tuition assistance is available. Apply online now at lightofchristschools.org or call 354-7067 for a private tour or shadow day.

KEEP THE PROMISE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN EVENT Please join us for a campaign event to get detailed information about our

school projects and learn more about the campaign! Food will be provided.

Attend any evening session that works best for you. Every Monday night in April & May

Bismarck Elks Lodge 900 S. Washington

5:30-7:30 pm

TimeTalent&Treasure

Prayer Line Call the Parish Office at 223-3606 or Pauline Mueller at 226-9471. The Prayer Line is a group of parishioners who pray for requested intentions. The names of those requests and/or the intentions are not made public. Names of people listed in the bulletin have given permission to use their name.

John W. Bitz, Mildred Schall, Marjorie Bitz, Jerry Feist, Larry Sackman, Don Hopfauf, Erna Jacobchick, Michelle Niska, Viola Bitz, Bill Feist, Jolene Klein, Dennis Conklin, Deacon Ray Grabar

FINANCIAL BLESSINGS

ParishCalendar

Monday, April 24 8:00 am Communion Service Tuesday, April 25 8:00 am †John Dosch by Burgard Family Wednesday, April 26

8:00 am †Diane Heck by Family Thursday, April 27 8:00 am †Bob Feeney by Jan Feeney Friday, April 28 8:00 am †Marlys Piatz by Glenn & Judy Thiel Saturday, April 29 5:00 pm †Don and Jeannie Heck by Ben & Jan Sitter Sunday, April 30 8:00 am †Adam and Erin Nynas-Schutt and family by Louis & Wanda Rose 9:30 am Robert Schumacher by Donavan & Margaret Schumacher 11:00 am People of the Parish

Weekly Schedule Monday, April 24 8:30 am Eucharistic Adoration Wednesday, April 26 4:00, 5:30, 7:00 Faith Formation Classes 7:00 pm 9th Grade Confirmation Practice in Church Sat–Sunday April 29-30 9th Grade Overnight Retreat to Medora Sunday, April 30 4:00-7:00 pm Spring Dinner

Readings for the Week of April 23:

Sunday: Acts 2:42-47/Ps 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24/

1 Pt 1:3-9/Jn 20:19-31

Monday: Acts 4:23-31/Ps 2:1-9/Jn 3:1-8

Tuesday: 1 Pt 5:5b-14/Ps 89:2-3, 6-7, 16-17/

Mk 16:15-20

Wednesday: Acts 5:17-26/Ps 34:2-9/Jn 3:16-21

Thursday: Acts 5:27-33/Ps 34:2, 9, 17-20/Jn 3:31-36

Friday: Acts 5:34-42/Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14/Jn 6:1-15

Saturday: Acts 6:1-7/Ps 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19/Jn 6:16-21

Sunday: Acts 2:14, 22-33/Ps 16:1-2, 5, 7-11/

1 Pt 1:17-21/Lk 24:13-35

WEEK COLLECTIONS BUDGET

April 9,

2017

$20,050.66 $12,230.00

April 16,

2017

$15,242.02 $12,230.00

Fiscal Year

to Date

$534,698.70 $513,660.00

Our First Reading from the Acts of the Apostles presents us with a glimpse of the early Church, the early Christian community. This passage is often misunderstood in some ways. When it speaks of “communal life,” that term is based upon a brief translation of a Greek word which means much more than what it might seem. The Greek word is Koinonia (κοινωνία), which is a broad term meaning association, communion, fellowship, and joint participation. It means to share in something. This is an excellent example of stewardship which has meaning for us today. Our parish is a community, one in which we are all called to share and to participate. Koinonia identifies an almost ideal state of fellowship and unity which should exist in the Church, the Body of Christ. It should be more than just attending Mass. When we speak of stewardship, we understand that it means much more than placing something in the collection basket. It means that we share all of our gifts, our time and talent also, with the community and others in need. It will be difficult for us to ever match the sense of association and the joy of that early Church, but it is a model for us to which we as a faith community should aspire. To be community and to be in communion with one another and with God requires active participation, not passivity. Father Thomas Merton O.C.S.O. once wrote: “The deepest level of communication is not communication, but communion…beyond speech…beyond concept.”

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Adult: We show our faith when we demonstrate courage in the face of difficulty. What could you do this week to help strengthen someone? Youth: What could you do this week to encourage someone who is sad or discouraged?