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 Beth Kathol…...…Parish Business Manager Kathy Lewis………………... Music & Liturgy Jan Sitter………………………...Bookkeeper Jessica MattsonJulie 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

March 25, 2018

ParishNews

LENTEN REGULATIONS Fasting & Abstinence: Catholics aged 14 and older abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and all Fridays of Lent. In addition, on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, Catholics from ages 18-59 fast, limiting themselves to one full meal and two smaller meals each day. Prayer: Catholics are encouraged to pray more during Lent, especially with scripture. Lent is also an ideal time to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation in preparation for the celebration of Christ's Passion, Death and Resurrection. Almsgiving: Moved by the sacrifice of Christ, many Christians combine almsgiving with fasting, giving the poor the money they saved by eating, drinking or buying less as they rely more upon God's abundant grace.

FaithFormationNews

Know your Faith Trivia Question of the Week Answer to last week’s question: Which is not one of the Stations of the Cross? A. Veronica Wipes Jesus’ Face B. Jesus Falls a Fourth Time C. Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem D. Jesus is Buried Look for the answer to the following question in next week’s bulletin: Question: What is the name of the large, colored vestment the priest wears for Mass?

Sunday, March 25th— St. Anne’s—3:00 pm Monday, March 26th—St. Mary’s—7:00 pm

Tuesday, March 27th—Corpus Christi—7:00 pm Wednesday, March 28th—Cathedral—7:00 pm

Thursday, March 29th—Mass of the Lord’s Supper—7:00 pm Good Friday, March 30th—Commemoration of the Lord’s Passion—12:00 pm

Saturday, March 31st—Easter Vigil—9:00 pm Sunday, April 1st—Easter—Masses at 8:00 am, 9:30 am, 11:00 am

Liturgical Ministers are needed for Holy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil. You may sign up by calling the office at 223-3606, going online at Ministry Scheduler Pro at https://secure.rotundasoftware.com/msp/webterminal/myProfile.php?user=ascensionparish, or emailing Jan at jcsitter@ascensionbismarck.org. Sign-up sheets will be in the foyer this weekend, if needed.

GOOD FRIDAY COLLECTION Pope Francis has asked our parish to support the Pontifical Good Friday Collection, which helps Christians in the Holy land. Your support helps the church minister in parishes, provide Catholic schools and offer religious education. The Pontifical Good Friday Collection also helps to preserve the sacred shrines. The wars, unrest, and instability have been especially hard on Christians. In these times of crisis, the Pontifical Good Friday Collection provides humanitarian aid to refuges. When you contribute to the Pontifical Good Friday Collection, you become an instrument of peace and join with Catholics around the world in solidarity with the Church in the Holy Land. Please be generous!

NO FAITH FORMATION CLASSES–WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28TH

EASTER BREAKFAST A breakfast will be served following the Easter Vigil on Saturday, March 31st. Volunteers are needed to make coffee, set out food, and clean up. If you are interested, please sign up on the sheet in the foyer or call the Parish Office at 223-3606.

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

Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion

Easter Vigil

John Bitz—Plate Renee Jangula—Plate Ellen Klein—Plate Rose Senger—Plate Mark Weigel—Plate Pete Baumgartner—Cup** Wayne Hatzenbuhler—Cup** VOLUNTEER—Cup VOLUNTEER—Cup VOLUNTEER—Cup

Danita Deichert—Plate LaRae Nelson—Plate Deb Salwei—Plate Alice Ternes—Plate Berna Vetter—Plate Paulette Heringer—Cup Cathy Hruby—Cup** Susan Mormann—Cup Doug Mormann—Cup Deb Schon—Cup**

Lynn Burgard—Plate Dave Charles—Plate Rosie Dingus—Plate Mark Dosch—Plate Mary Fornshell—Plate Jay Uhlman—Plate** Bobbie Grassel—Cup** John Knox—Cup Kiaya Schwab—Cup Melanie Schwab—Cup VOLUNTEER—Cup

Hospitality

Lori Engleson Jeff Engleson Greg Power Brian Schumacher**

Bob Heringer** Alex Schon Joe Schon Troy Schon

Pam Bryan** John Bryan Lina Gaab VOLUNTEER

Lector Rita Ritter Kaye Anderson Bev Charles

Altar Server Adriel Vetter

Milla Weigel Matthew Volk Katie Volk

Ethan Tena Mya Tena

Video/Audio Operator

Lauren Weigel Val Frank Dave Charles

Music Ministry

Kathy Lewis Tryston Simek

Ken Steckler Group Mike Langer Keylee Hertz Barnett

Liturgical Ministers: March 31st and April 1st, The Resurrection of the Lord

DioceseNews

CHRISM MASS The annual Chrism Mass will be celebrated on Monday, March 26th at 11:00 am at Cathedral. At this diocesan-wide celebration, all priests of the diocese gather with the Bishop to renew their dedication to priestly service. The three different oils (Oil of the Sick, Oil of the Catechumens, and Sacred Chrism) are

blessed and distributed by the Bishop to the pastors of the diocese. Everyone is welcome to attend; however, please note that seating for the general public will be limited.

HANNAH’S HOPE SUPPORT GROUP Spinning off of the Hannah’s Hope Mass first offered in 2017 by our own Bishop David Kagan, the Diocese of Bismarck is beginning a support group for those facing the struggles of infertility. They hope to grow the ministry in the future to include other endeavors. The meetings will be held at 7:00 pm every first Thursday of the month, starting on April 5th, either on location in Bismarck or via online video conferencing. It loosely follows a book study in the realm of faith and life and allows for time spent with others who share the same struggles. Go to bismarckdiocese.com/hope to register to join the group. Contact Christie Collins at ccollins@bismarckdiocese.com or 864-354-5046.

LOCK-IN YOUR FAITH Students in grades 6-8 across the Diocese of Bismarck are invited to attend our first annual “Lock-in Your Faith”, an overnight lock-in/retreat, beginning at 6:30 pm on Friday, April 6th at St. Mary’s Church in Bismarck. Lock-in Your Faith will include a variety of prayer experiences, small and large group games and activities, and off site activities including SkyZone and bowling at Midway Lanes. Cost for adult chaperones and youth is $40. You can find out more info and register online at www.bismarckdiocese.com/lockin. Registration deadline is March 30th. For questions, contact Carrie Davis at cdavis@bismarckdiocese.com or 204-7208.

WOMEN’S THIRST CONFERENCE Preparations for the Diocese of Bismarck’s Thirst 2018 Women’s Conference are in full swing. Registration is now open! The conference is scheduled for Saturday, September 22nd at the Bismarck Event Center. Details and FREE registration are available at http://bismarckdiocese.com/thirst2018. The conference promises to be a wonderful day of spiritual rejuvenation for the women of our region, and we highly expect an attendance of 1,000+.

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, Tim Heidt, Erna Jacobchick, Michelle Niska, Viola Bitz, Bill Feist, Jolene Klein, Richelle Knudson, Daryl Wanner, Mary Shaffer, Dennis Barnhardt

FINANCIAL BLESSINGS

ParishCalendar

WEEK COLLECTIONS BUDGET

March 18,

2018

N/A $13,002.00

Fiscal Year

to Date

N/A $494,076.00

In his letter to the Philippians, our Second Reading on this Palm Sunday, St. Paul writes, “…he emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Everything we hear today and during Holy Week relates to this statement. For some 2,000 years scholars and theologians have debated what the phrase “emptied himself” means. As is sometimes the case, in the midst of these debates and discussions they lose focus of what is really Paul’s point and teaching perhaps. One of the things Paul might be trying to get us to think about is emptying ourselves to a certain extent. If you have ever been a retreat or been part of a spiritual exercise, you may be encouraged to “empty yourself” so you are prepared to in reality add something. Jesus gave much up to be the Son of Man. At this point in our Lenten journey, we need to grasp that He gave up His life so that we might have life. That is what should be on our minds as we hear the Passion today and as we continue and complete our own preparation for Christ’s resurrection on Easter. Have you ever heard someone say about someone else “He (or she) is so full of himself (or herself)?” Jesus was not “full of Himself.” He emptied Himself, and that is something we, too, must strive to do to be His disciple.

Weekly Schedule Monday, March 26 8:30 am Eucharistic Adoration Wednesday March 28 NO Faith Formation Classes Thursday, March 29 7:00 pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper 8:15 pm Eucharistic Exposition to 10:00 pm in the Community Room Friday March 30 12:00 pm Commemoration of the Lord’s Passion 5:30 pm Stations of the Cross Saturday March 31 9:00 pm Easter Vigil, followed by breakfast in the Community Room

Readings for the Week of March 25th

Monday: Is 42:1-7/Ps 27:1, 2, 3, 13-14/Jn 12:1-11

Tuesday: Is 49:1-6/Ps 71:1-2, 3-4a, 5ab-6ab, 15 and 17

Jn 13:21-33, 36-38

Wednesday: Is 50:4-9a/Ps 69:8-10, 21-22, 31 and 33-34/

Mt 26:14-25

Thursday: Ex 12:1-8, 11-14/Ps 116:12-13, 15-16bc, 17-18/

1 Cor 11:23-26/Jn 13:1-15

Friday: Is 52:13—53:12/Ps 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-16, 17,

25/Heb 4:14-16: 5:7-9/Jn 18:1—19:42

Saturday: Gn 1:1—2:2, 26-31a/Ps 104:1-2, 5-6, 10, 12,

13-14, 24, 35/Gn 22:1-18, 9a, 10-13, 15-18/

Ps 16:5, 8, 9-10, 11/Ex 14:15—15:1/Ex 15:1-2,

3-4, 5-6, 17-18/Is 54:5-14/Ps 30:2, 4, 5-6, 11-12,

13/Is 55:1-11/Is 12:2-3, 4, 5-6/Bar 3:9-15,

32—4:4/Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 11/Ez 36:16-17a, 18-28/

Ps 42:3, 5; 43:3, 4/Rom 6:3-11/Ps 118:1-2,

6-17, 22-23/Mk 16:1-7

Sunday: Acts 10:34a, 37-43/Ps 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23/

Col 3:1-4/Jn 20:1-9

Monday, March 26 8:00 am Communion Service Tuesday, March 27 8:00 am Christine Gross Sperle by Leo and Bernie Vetter Wednesday, March 28 8:00 am Fr. Greg Luger by Mike and Julie Luger Thursday, March 29 7:00 pm †Dirk Hausauer by Ray Grabar Friday, March 30 12:00 pm Good Friday Service Saturday, March 31 9:00 pm †Clarence and Pauline Schmitz by Family Sunday, April 1 8:00 am People of the Parish 9:30 am †Shelly, Mary, and Elizabeth Schlosser By Louie & Janice Schlosser 11:00 am †Jean Wanner by Keven and Kristi Wanner