Ascension Catholic Church Newsletter — December 2020

Ascension c at h ol i c c h ur c h

The

Inside

ALAR SERVER MINISTRY

DEC 2020

A Valuable Opportunity to Grow in Faith Through Service

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t is clear how altar servers have an important and special role in the Catholic Mass. In many ways, they “lighten the load” for our priests and deacons. In a 2015 address, Pope Francis stated, “Serving at the altar is a privileged way to draw closer to Jesus, which in turn enables you to open yourselves to others, to journey together, to set demanding goals and to find the strength to achieve them.”

Pope Francis also said this closeness to the altar helps to remind altar servers to pray every day, while providing them with the skills to go out and spread their joy.

Deacon John Paul Martin calls the ministry of service at the altar an “awesome responsibility,” and says the most important role for altar Blaise Kathol carrying up servers is preparing and clearing the altar for the cross to begin Mass the Consecration.

“It is similar to preparing your table at home for a Thanksgiving meal feast, though with infinitely more importance,” he says. “Bringing forth the Roman Missal, corporal, purificator, paten, and chalice, along with the bread, wine and water for Consecration are all the roles of the altar server.”

Here at Ascension, we have altar servers of all ages, both male and female.

Children may begin serving in fourth grade. The adult servers assist mostly at weekday Mass and funerals. continued on page 5

2 Begin the Journey

Home for Christmas/

Upcoming Events 3 Unwrapping the

Gift of Stewardship 4/5

Meet Parish Secretary Rita Ritter: The First Smile You’ll See

6 Window 6: Jesus

and the Little Children 7

Matthew and Katie Volk: Parish Youth Live Out Stewardship, Active in Service and Faith Life

Ascension Home for Begin the Journey

CHRISTMAS

c at h ol i c c h ur c h

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hrist was born the son of a poor carpenter. This was by no means an accident. His birth was the culmination of salvation history, as it profoundly revealed the glory of God. Infinite power and wisdom took the form “of a servant, coming in human likeness” (Phil 2:7) — not as a warrior, but a poor and vulnerable babe.

Every aspect of Christ’s birth, from the three kings to the swaddling clothes, carries meaning.

The proclamation of the angel, therefore, is also important: “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people” (Lk 2:10). This message, meant to be for “all the people,” was announced to a group of shepherds in a field out in the middle of nowhere. Was this accidental? Not at all.

The shepherds, who received a personal invitation to greet Christ at the manger, reveal that God’s love extends beyond boundaries of distance and transcends social classes. Unlike persons of this world who yearn to gain recognition with those of influence, wealth or beauty, Christ cries out to the lowly in society — to the shepherds in the distance. He reaches out in love, desiring a relationship with every single person, no

matter their status. This is the “good news of great joy for all people” — Christ was born for us all.

Christmas is the perfect time for distant shepherds to begin the journey home. The angel’s greeting extends to all those who feel estranged from the Church or numb to God’s love. Those who have fallen away from the faith can be comforted by these words: “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord” (Lk 2:10-11).

Be not afraid. The Christ Child awaits your arrival. Begin the journey back to Christ by drawing near to His body, the Church. Through prayer and the sacraments, you will discover the great joy that accompanies a relationship with God. Take a moment to ask the Lord to bring peace to your heart and guide you in love towards Him. Please join our parish family for the final preparations of Advent, as well as the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Masses.

You have read this entire article and have received a personal invitation to begin the journey. Accidental?

Not a chance.

Upcoming Events Extended Eucharistic Exposition and Adoration — Mondays of Advent Nov. 30, Dec. 7, 14, 21 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Sign up online at www.ascensionbismarck.org or in the church entrance. Please commit to 30 minutes!

Dec. 2nd — Confirmation Retreat Led by the University of Mary Retreat Team for seventh and eighth grades 5:45 p.m. to 9 p.m.

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Dec. 8th — Immaculate Conception Masses 8 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Dec. 12 — Second-Grade First Reconciliation 10 a.m.

Dec. 24 — Christmas Eve Masses 4 and 10 p.m.

Dec. 25 — Christmas Day Masses 9:30 and 11 a.m.

Dec. 31 — Holy Mary Mother of God Mass 5 p.m.

Jan. 1 — Holy Mary Mother of God Mass 9 a.m.

A Letter From Our Pastor

Unwrapping the Gift of

Stewardship

Dear Parishioners,

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ost people associate stewardship with giving.

Some think it is a desperate plea by the church asking parishioners to give some of your time, talent and treasure to a worthy cause. Some think it is a noble gesture that identifies a faithful steward, a common occurrence this time of year.

And for some, it is an understanding that the stewardship way of life brings joy and blessings to the giver by returning a portion of the gifts he or she has received from God. At Christmas, when it is most common to give or receive gifts, should this not also be a time when the stewardship way of life becomes the gift that is unwrapped by our consciousness and treasured by our faith? After all, the first gift of Christmas was the gift of God’s own Son. For those who may still be struggling to truly understand the stewardship way of life, that may be a concept that is difficult to accept, even at this time of year. But by living the stewardship way of life, it makes perfect sense to me. And during this season of faith, the gift of stewardship remains one of the blessings of my life as a Catholic, as a priest and as a pastor.

Before fully embracing a life of stewardship, I could justify wasting my time with less-thanworthwhile activities. I could rationalize withholding my talents, because I often thought somebody else would always step up and take care of things instead of me. I restricted or limited sharing my material resources, thinking it wouldn’t make a difference — or worse yet, I thought others could afford to give more than me, because I believed I had already given enough. As each day passes, I remind myself often of how wrong I was in what I did with my time, talent and treasure. But the days for regretting my misunderstanding of the stewardship way of life are over.

Stewardship conversion changes all of that,

and the reverse is now true.

The more time, talent and treasure that I can give, the more content and joyful I truly am. When is the last time you unwrapped a gift that gave you so much peace of mind and heart?

Maybe you have never been aware of receiving such a gift, or maybe God is just waiting for you to unwrap what He has always wanted you to have. Perhaps it is the gift God wants you to have this year for Christmas.

The catalyst for stewardship is gratitude. And, as we recognize that all we have is a gift from God, it lights up our gratitude as if it were a large Christmas tree with too many lights on it to be counted. All we can do is look at it with wonder and awe, thankful for what we see, what we have, and the opportunity to give back something in gratitude. It is more than just a spirit of “holiday stewardship” that seems to be so common this time of year. It is the core of the stewardship way of life, and once that gift is unwrapped, our conversion takes hold and our lives are transformed into faithful stewardship intended by our God. I hope and pray that you and your family will be blessed during this season of God’s grace, unwrapping the gift of stewardship in your lives and finding joy and peace — both during this season of grace and all year long.

Sincerely yours in Christ, Msgr. Jim Braaten Pastor 3

Ascension c at h ol i c c h ur c h

Meet Parish Secr

The First Smi

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f you’ve ever called the parish office, you’ve probably chatted with her. If you’ve come to Mass in the last several months, she has probably greeted you. And if you’re involved in any ministry at Ascension, at the very least, you probably know her name.

A longtime parishioner, Rita Ritter began volunteering in the parish office several years ago, after retiring from a career with the United States Postal Service. Before she knew it, she was offered a part-time position as parish secretary and has been serving the parish in that role for the past five years.

“I just so enjoyed it when I was volunteering as a secretary — greeting new parishioners, making them feel comfortable, telling them about our parish, welcoming them to our parish,” Rita says.

“Then, I was offered the part-time position, and it opened up a whole new world to me.”

Rita’s role includes a variety of different tasks, from coordinating the schedules for the various liturgical ministries, putting together the parish directory and bulletin, to being a smiling face to greet people when they come to the parish office, and more.

“I just thoroughly enjoy coming here; I feel blessed,” Rita says. “I feel blessed that I’m able to meet the new people, and to be aware of the people who need extra prayers, and those who would appreciate a visit.”

Rita’s faith has always been important to her, as she was raised Catholic, just outside of Napoleon, N.D. Her parents modeled for her what it meant to

Rita Ritter (center), pictured with her husband, two sons, and their families, has been involved in our parish since she became a member — nearly three decades ago — and has been our parish secretary for the past five years.

be involved and to serve in her small home parish.

“My parents were very involved and that’s probably where I get that ‘gene’ from,” Rita says.

“Mom and Dad were always doing something for the church — we just grew up that way. It was just something that we did, and something I wanted to carry into my own family.”

And carry it into her own family, she did. Rita and her husband of 43 years, Steve, and their two sons became involved at Ascension as soon as they arrived 27 years ago. From serving at the monthly continued on page 5

“Our parish staff is very enthusiastic, very prayerful and we encourage any of our parishioners with a unique talent or skill to reach out to us and see if we can use their talents. Reach out to us! We are so eager to help you become involved and we’re so open to new ideas. We have a wonderful staff.” — Rita Ritter 4

retary Rita Ritter:

ile You’ll See

Sunday potluck dinners to being a lector at Mass, and currently serving as the President of the Ladies of Ascension, Rita is a self-proclaimed “doer” who loves to give back to the parish.

Rita has also found that her faith has grown and deepened since joining the parish staff. “[Now, I understand] why we do the things we do at Mass,” Rita says. “Before, I just did them. But now that I work here, amongst the staff, we talk and I participate more, it opens up a whole new world.

“I have grown in prayer,” she adds. “Now, it’s not just going to church on Sunday — it’s a daily thing, an hourly thing. It isn’t just when you need something, but also when you’re grateful. It’s broadened my view and it’s deepened my prayer life, no question about it.”

Rita encourages her fellow parishioners to consider becoming involved in the parish, whether in service or just in getting to know others in the community. She recommends that young families come to participate in the monthly Knights of Columbus dinners — which take place during children’s Faith Formation classes — or find a ministry in which they may volunteer.

“Come and meet fellow parishioners,” Rita says.

“It would be a good first step.

“Our parish staff is very enthusiastic, very prayerful and we encourage any of our parishioners with a unique talent or skill to reach out to us and see if we can use their talents,” she adds. “Reach out to us! We are so eager to help you become involved and we’re so open to new ideas. We have a wonderful staff.”

The Altar Server Ministry continued from front cover Deacon John Paul believes that helping children and teens develop a solid foundation in the faith is important, and it will equip them for the future. He recalls a conversation he had before Mass with two altar servers. He thanked them for giving of their time and talent, and one replied how serving helps him pay closer attention at Mass, while the other said she had learned so much more about the Mass.

“We know that challenges to our faith will come, and having as many tools as possible to deal successfully with them can only be a good thing,” Deacon John Paul says. “In this way, not only does the soul of the individual benefit, but the life of the Church does as well.”

There may be some natural anxiety that comes with serving in this ministry, but Deacon John Paul points out that there’s always someone there to help with subtle reminders. Everyone is there to serve our Lord.

“The Holy Spirit of God is always there to help, as well,” he says.

Deacon John Paul invites anyone to get involved as an altar server. Training can be done in groups or one-on-one. Cody Volk leads the altar server training and is assisted by the clergy. Cody and Christy Volk’s children, Katie and Matthew, have years of serving experience, as well.

If you would like volunteer as an altar server, or if you would like more information, please call the parish office at 701-223-3606.

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Ascension c at h ol i c c h ur c h

Window 6:

Jesus and the Little Children

This is the sixth in a 12-part series on our stained glass windows in Ascension Catholic Church.

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his window depicts the beautiful invitation of Jesus to “let the little children come to me” (Matthew 19:14). When Ascension Parish was founded, it was comprised of many young families and this window was a tribute to our parish demographics.

“Jesus asks for childlike abandonment to the providence of our heavenly Father who takes care of his children’s smallest needs” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 305). The faithful person depends on God in a way that is absolutely dependent. The faith God looks for is humble, teachable and trusting — like a child. Childlike faith is a metaphor for trust, dependence and love, and an encouragement to ask for what we need, depending on him fully — like children depend on their Father.

In Matthew, Jesus called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said, “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:2-4).

The Cross and Crown (above Jesus’ head) are familiar symbols.

They represent the reward awaiting in heaven (the crown) that believers will receive after the suffering and trials of life on earth (the cross). We see the Chi Rho (Christ) symbol flanked by the letters “J” and “M” which signify Joseph and Mary. All three together then indicates the Holy Family (Jesus, Mary and Joseph) and their flight to Egypt when Jesus was a child with the pyramids in the background.

The pyramid is also the symbol of the Body of Christ. All the corners of the pyramid come together in the Head Stone, Christ the Lord.

St. Therese of Lisieux, also known as “the Little Flower,” stated: “I (pray) like children who do not know how to read, I say very simply to God what I wish to say, without composing beautiful sentences, and He always understands me.”

Meditate on these questions when observing this window — When has my faith been shaken? How can I regain that simple, unquestioning, faith of a child? In what ways does God take care of my needs?

When reflecting on this window, we can pray with St. Therese, the Little Flower, “Dear Lord, help me to have a simple and childlike faith in You and, through this simple faith, come to know the beautiful mysteries You desire to reveal to me. Give me wisdom and knowledge, dear Lord, beyond what I could ever obtain by myself. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen.”

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Matthew and Katie Volk: Parish Youth

live out stewardship

Active in Service and Faith Life

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rain the young in the way they should go; even when old, they will not swerve from it.”

With these words, Proverbs 22:6 instructs us on the great importance of bringing children up in the faith. When parishioners Cody and Christy Volk got married, there was no doubt in their minds that they would raise their children in the Church.

Thankful for the example provided them by their own sets of parents, the Volks have made involvement in parish life a natural part of their family’s schedule, to include the participation of their children, Matthew and Katie. Both Matthew and Katie are altar servers and, along with their father, they have also helped train other young parishioners in this ministry.

“I like altar serving because I get to work with the deacons and the priest,” Matthew says. “I also think that it helps me pay more attention to the Mass. When I help with training the new altar servers, I feel good because I’m helping the church.”

Following the lead of their dad, Cody, who serves on the Parish Council and parish Social Concerns Committee, Matthew and Katie have also volunteered to tie prayer blankets for hospital patients and have helped with the annual Christmas Eve Dinner here at Ascension.

“I helped with the blankets because I knew it was a good thing to do, and I wanted to help the church,” Katie says. “And it felt good helping with the Christmas Eve Dinner. I like to stay active in my faith life because my mom and dad encourage me to participate in Mass and all these activities, and it always makes me feel good.”

As a middle schooler himself, Matthew knows how difficult it can be for some children his age to resist the temptation to stray from their foundation in the faith. His advice for young people who are struggling to stay on the right path is to surround themselves with like-minded peers and remember that the Lord will give them the strength to follow His will.

“Peer pressure is probably the hardest thing for kids my age,” he says. “I normally just hang out with the friends I know I can trust, and not other

Katie and Matthew Volk enjoy altar serving and helping out with parish ministries.

people who aren’t as trustworthy. I would tell kids who are facing peer pressure to make sure you have friends you can trust, and if you get put in a bad situation, just walk away. Know that God is watching over you, and if you do make a mistake and do something wrong, you can go to Confession.”

Like Matthew, Katie is thankful that she has God — and her parents — to turn to whenever she faces a difficult decision or situation.

Both of the Volk children plan to stay active in parish life as they get older — Matthew envisions himself one day serving as a lector and usher, while Katie has an interest in serving as a lector and in music ministry.

It is the sincerest hope of Cody and Christy that the seeds of faith and stewardship they are planting in their children at an early age will continue to grow and blossom through their adulthood.

“Cody and I were both fortunate that we had a good foundation in the faith and it was important in our families’ lives,” Christy says. “And it’s especially important for kids growing up in today’s world. I hope our kids always talk to us, but I also hope they know God is always there and they can talk to Him, too. Faith is so important for getting through life.”

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Church of the Ascension 1905 S 3rd St. | Bismarck, ND 58504-7118 701-223-3606 | www.ascensionbismarck.org

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Vocations Week Speakers Help Our Children

Understand the Call to Religious Life

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aith Formation students enjoyed special guest speakers on Nov. 4 during Vocations Week. Fr. Jordan Dosch — Director of Vocations for the Diocese of Bismarck — and Sr. Mary Joseph and Sr. Mary Scholastica from the St. Mary Sisters religious order visited with the students about the call to Religious Life. The St. Mary Sisters is a new religious order in our diocese, announced by Bishop Kagan as a Public Association of the Christian Faithful for Women on June 1.

LITURGY SCHEDULE

Saturday, 5:00 p.m. | Sunday, 8:00 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m.

Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. | Holy Days: 8:00 a.m., 7:00 p.m.

Stewardship is the grateful response of a Christian disciple who recognizes and receives God’s gifts and shares these gifts in love of God and neighbor.