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 30, 2017

THE SOCIAL CONCERNS COMMITTEE

THANKS YOU!

Thank you to everyone who donated food items for the Bismarck High School Food Pantry. Once again

Ascension parishioners demonstrated their generosity. The following is an excerpt from a BHS thank you card: “Thank you for your kindness and

generosity in making life a little brighter for our students.”

CIRCLE OF FRIENDS

We are a group of friends from Ascension Parish who have experienced the loss of loved ones. Our next luncheon is scheduled for Thursday, May 4th at the Elks. Also, if anyone is interested in staying

after lunch to play cards, Lil Krance will provide playing cards. If you are planning to attend,

please call Lil at 255-7610 or 202-5594 or Linda Bortke at 223-0802.

FIRST FRIDAY FELLOWSHIP

First Friday Fellowship will be held on Friday, May 5th

in the Community Room after the 8:00 am Mass.

What a wonderful opportunity to visit

and enjoy coffee and pastries!

MOTHER’S DAY BREAKFAST

Sunday, May 14th from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm

Ascension Parish Community Room

The Knights of Columbus Council #7602 is hosting a

Mother’s Day Breakfast with proceeds benefitting

the St. Gianna Maternity Home in Warsaw, ND.

The menu includes: Eggs, Sausage, Hashbrowns,

Sweet Rolls, Fresh Fruit, Coffee and Juice. They will also be

giving away gift baskets. This is a free-will offering. Be sure to

treat any special “moms” in your life to this delicious meal.

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.

ParishNotes

SPRING DINNER

Ascension’s Annual Spring Dinner is today, 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.

CLOSING FAITH FORMATION MASS & POTLUCK!

Wednesday, May 3rd at 6:00 pm in the Church and Community Room

We will have our closing Faith Formation Mass and Potluck/Grill-Out on Wednesday, May 3rd. Mass will take place at 6:00 pm in the church, followed by a Potluck-Grill-Out in the Community Room. Families are asked to please bring a side dish or dessert to share. The Knights of Columbus will be grilling hotdogs/hamburgers and there will be plenty for everyone. We will also be handing out gifts for Perfect Attendance and will have some door prizes as well. Please be sure to attend and celebrate a great year!

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

Count Offering Team #5

Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion

Sarah Eberle—Plate Ken Johnson—Plate Tammie Johnson—Plate Pauline Mueller—Plate Jan Sitter—Cup Bob Scherr—Cup** Loretta Scherr—Cup**

John Bitz—Plate Phyllis Silbernagel—Plate Mark Weigel—Plate Michelle Schmidt—Cup** Pete Baumgartner—Cup**

Deb Salwei—Plate Pam Moormann—Plate Jean Kraft—Plate Ashley Salwei—Plate Scott LeBlanc—Cup** Alice Ternes—Cup** Rod Wald—Cup

Dave Charles—Plate Sue Mock—Plate Kiaya Schwab—Plate Melanie Schwab—Plate John Paul Martin—Plate** Grady Martin—Cup** Julie Ness—Cup

Hospitality

Lina Gaab Lil Krance Marlene Zimmerman

Judy Ness Greg Power Al Lick

Tanya Hopfauf Dina Walker Troy Walker

Carl Ness Nick Ness Vern Mock

Lector Hannah Cahoon Phyllis Silbernagel Celia Vetter John Paul Martin

Altar Server Morgan Celley Jenny Celley

Milla Weigel Adriel Vetter

Madison Hopfauf Matthew Volk

Trey Haberlock Erica Haberlock

Video/Audio Operator Aaron Mahlmann Nancy Hoselton Dan Hopfauf Dave Charles

Serving the Assembly May 6th and 7th: 4th Sunday of Easter

AdultFaithFormation

DioceseNews

GOD’S SHARE APPEAL

This week, you should receive your personal invitation from Bishop Kagan to participate in the Annual God’s Share Appeal. Your gift to our 60th Annual God’s Share Appeal will help provide the ministries, programs and services that are essential to the mission of Jesus Christ in western North Dakota. Next weekend is commitment weekend. While you rejoice in your own hope of salvation, consider how your gift will be helping Jesus Christ. Please be as generous as you are able.

REAL PRESENCE RADIO

Your Spring Live Drive on Real Presence Radio is coming May 10th-12th. Tune in and call in your support for your local Catholic Radio stations 91.3/91.7FM (Bismarck/Mandan). Thank you for your prayers and support. Call 1-877-795-0122 or send your gifts to PO Box 13703, Grand Forks, ND 58208.

FORMED.ORG FEATURE OF THE WEEK

FINDING FATIMA – MOVIE Produced by the award-winning filmmakers of the highly acclaimed feature film The 13th Day, this powerful and in-depth documentary combines archival footage, dramatic reenactments, original interviews with Fatima experts, and stunning visuals to tell the whole story of the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima. With high production values and a beautiful look, artists and filmmakers Ian and Dominic Higgins present a compelling docu-drama on the crucial details about the appearances and messages of Our Lady in Fatima in 1917, a message of prayer, penance, and conversion that is desperately needed in our modern world. From the initial apparitions of the angel who prepared the children for Our Lady's coming, to the Miracle of the Sun, including moving film footage from The 13th Day, this illuminating and inspiring film will impact all those who see it to take heed of the critical messages of Our Lady of Fatima.

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!

OUR LADY OF FATIMA APPARITIONS

Join the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit in celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Our Lady of Fatima Apparitions with Mass and all-night Eucharistic Adoration. Mass will be celebrated on Friday, May 12th at 7:00 pm by Fr. Jason Signalness, with a procession led by the 4th Degree Knights of Columbus. Adoration begins at 8:00 pm (following Mass). Recitation of the rosary will be on the hour throughout the night. The Chaplet of Divine Mercy will be recited on Saturday at 3:00 am. Adoration ends Saturday, May 13th with closing benediction at 7:00 am, followed by the 8:00 am parish Mass. The events are sponsored by the Bismarck Diocesan Division of the World Apostolate of Fatima. For more information, contact Joanne Mahrer at 663-2551.

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, May 1 8:00 am Communion Service Tuesday, May 2 8:00 am †Edward and Mary Held by Mark & Janet Schmidt Wednesday, May 3

8:00 am Linda Blackberry Thursday, May 4 8:00 am †James Fornshell by Mary Fornshell Friday, May 5 8:00 am †Philip G. Miller by George & Leona Kuntz Saturday, May 6 5:00 pm †Art Mueller by Pauline Mueller Sunday, May 7 8:00 am †Al Stockert by Connie Stockert 9:30 am August Vetter by Leo & Bernie Vetter 11:00 am People of the Parish

Weekly Schedule Monday, May 1 8:30 am Eucharistic Adoration 6:30 pm Social Concerns Meeting Tuesday, May 2 7:00 pm Parish Council meeting 7:00 pm RCIA Wednesday, May 3 6:00 pm Faith Formation Closing Mass and Potluck/Grill-out Thursday, May 4 11:30 am Circle of Friends at the Elks Friday, May 5 8:30 am First Friday Fellowship in Community Room 7:00 pm Confirmation Mass Sat-Sunday, May 6 and 7 Ladies of Ascension Bake Sale after all Masses

Readings for the Week of April 30:

Monday: Acts 6:8-15/Ps 119:23-24, 26-27, 29-30/

Jn 6:22-29

Tuesday: Acts 7:51—8:1a/Ps 31:3cd-4, 6, 7b, 8a, 17,

21ab/Jn 6:30-35

Wednesday: 1 Cor 15:1-8/Ps 66:1-3a, 4-7a/Jn 14:6-14

Thursday: Acts 8:26-40/Ps 66:8-9, 16-17, 20/Jn 6:44-51

Friday: Acts 9:1-20/Ps 117:1bc, 2/Jn 6:52-59

Saturday: Acts 9:31-42/Ps 116:12-17/Jn 6:60-69

Sunday: Acts 2:14a, 3-41/Ps 23:1-6/1 Pt 2:20b-25,

Jn 10:1-10

Check out our website at www.ascensionbismarck.org

WEEK COLLECTIONS BUDGET

April 23,

2017

$11,140.84 $12,230.00

Fiscal Year

to Date

$545,839.54 $525,890.00

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Adult: In what way have you come to know Jesus better through the breaking of the bread at Eucharist? Youth: When you join Jesus at the table of the Eucharist next Sunday, what would you like to thank him for?

Today’s Gospel Reading recounts Jesus’ appearance to two disciples who were on the road to Emmaus. In various scriptural passages, there are 12 accounts of Jesus appearing in the flesh, a few times to just one person, but once to 500 people (1 Corinthians 15: 6). What is interesting about today’s account is the two, although evidently familiar with the Lord, do not recognize Him (“…their eyes were prevented from recognizing him.”). This is a challenge for us today as well. St. Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa) once wrote, “I see Jesus in every human being. I say to myself, this is hungry Jesus; I must feed him. This is sick Jesus. This one has leprosy or gangrene; I must wash him and tend to him. I serve because I love Jesus.” That should be our motivation for serving, for being a disciple, for practicing stewardship. Like the two disciples going to Emmaus we must be alert and prepared to see Jesus in places we least imagine Him. Stewardship is, of course, a two-sided perspective. Not only do we need to seek and search for Jesus in others and then serve, but also others need to see and recognize Jesus in us. If we properly live out our faith, we, too, may experience the sense of joy and ecstasy the two disciples found in today’s Gospel: “Were not our hearts burning within us while he spoke to us on the way and opened Scriptures to us?” Jesus speaks to us every day, but we must learn to listen. The original Greek word for what we read as “throes of death” could also be translated as “the birth pains of death.” Jesus’ resurrection is as if He was in the womb, and being raised in this way He was born to new life. That is what we, too, can expect and hope for.