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

July 15, 2018

FaithFormationNews

KNOW YOUR FAITH TRIVIA QUESTION OF THE WEEK Answer to last week’s question: The largest Catholic Church in North America is found in which city? A. Los Angeles B. New York City C. Washington, DC D. Chicago Look for the answer to the following question in next week’s bulletin: Question: Where was the first Mass in the United States believed to have started? A. St. Augustine, FL B. Charleston, SC C. Savannah, GA D. Boston, MA

Go to www.formed.org and use parish code: Z79KWG

CATECHIST OPENING NEEDS Please pray about being a catechist for our Faith Formation Program. Everything you need will be provided for you such as training and resources. To be a catechist requires the sacrifice of around 60-90 minutes a week; however, I would challenge you to think about all the other things you do for that period of time (or more) on a weekly basis to put this commitment into perspective. The program has openings for catechists at the following times: 4:00 Session grades 3rd and 4th

5:30 Session grade 5th 7:00 Session grades 4th, 5th, 6th, 6th, 7th, and 8th grade small group leader. Please contact Jessica Mattson for more information at 223-3606. She would be happy to speak with you!

A VERY IMPORTANT ANNIVERSARY IN THE CHURCH Humanae Vitae, the 1968 encyclical by Pope Paul VI, affirms the Church’s teaching against contraception. It talks about the dignity of human life and sexuality, and outlines the use of Natural Family Planning as a morally valid method of planning and spacing children. During the month of July we celebrate with the entire Church Pope Paul VI’s 50th anniversary of Humanae Vitae, On Human Life. Please take advantage of the new resources on the Kiosk in the church narthex to learn more about this very important church teaching. Look for the actual text of Humanae Vitae (in book form) and these other titles (in CD form) on our kiosk! Humanae Vitae, Pope Paul VI God’s Plan for Love by Archbishop Samuel Aquila, Contraception—Cracking the Myths by Janet Smith Green Sex—The Case for Natural Family Planning by Jason Evert Why I Left Planned Parenthood—From Death to Life by Abby Johnson Has the Sexual Revolution Been Good for Women? By Mary Eberstadt Consider attending Sexual Revolution, a great movie which will explore what has happened in the 50 years since the writing of Humanae Vitae. This movie is being shown at the Grand Theatre, located at 1486 Interstate Loop in Bismarck, on Wednesday, July 25th at 7:00 pm and 9:00 pm. Please consider attending after our Parish Picnic on that day! The tickets are free; however, registration is required at www.bismarckdiocese.com/revolution or contact Pam at 204-7185.

ROOF PROJECT As you may have noticed, our new church roof has been completed! Thank you

to all the generous donors who have contributed towards this project. Our goal is to raise $50,000. The gifts received as of July 9th total $40,375. We still need

$9,625 to reach our goal! Please prayerfully consider a financial gift to help cover the costs of maintaining our church structure.

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

Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion

Linda Charbonneau—Plate Carol Preskey—Plate** Loretta Scherr—Plate Bob Scherr—Plate Mary Fornshell—Cup** Ellen Holt—Cup Meredith Holt—Cup

Ellen Klein—Plate** Rose Senger—Plate** Mark Weigel—Plate Pete Baumgartner—Cup

Linda Haider—Plate Pam Moormann—Plate LaRae Nelson—Plate Rod Wald—Plate** Deb Wald—Cup** Danita Deichert—Cup Cathy Hruby

Bill Blotsky—Plate Shawn Meier—Plate Sue Mock—Plate Jay Uhlman—Plate** Rosie Dingus—Cup Shirley Schafer—Cup Melanie Schwab—Cup**

Hospitality

Randy Schafer** Conni Schafer Lil Krance Kendall Preskey

Terry Daffinrud** Jan Daffinrud Judy Ness Brian Schumacher

Bob Heringer** Virgil Case Tanya Hopfauf Gene Jordan

Levi Bitz** Elsie Seeberg Angela Wescott Lucas Wescott

Lector Linda Charbonneau Wanda Rose Denise Jordan Al Dolajak

Altar Server Morgan Celley Jenny Celley

Blaise Kathol Milla Weigel

Madison Hopfauf Cooper Weidner

Darius Gabriel Parker Gabriel

Video/Audio Operator

Brenda Muscha Dee Baumgartner Dan Hopfauf Kiaya Schwab

Music Ministry Joan Backes Keylee Hertz Barnett

Kathy Lewis Renee Loh

Mike Langer, Carol Reinert, Cindy Bleth

Cheneniah

Liturgical Ministers: July 21st and 22nd, Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

ParishNews

The flowers near the altar have been

donated by Janice & Louie Schlosser

in memory of their daughters, Shelly, Mary, and

Elizabeth.

SAVE THE DATE

ASCENSION CHURCH PICNIC

WEDNESDAY, JULY 25TH

Serving from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm

Hamburgers, Hotdogs, Ice Cream

Treats, and Beverages will be

provided. Parishioners are asked to

bring a side dish to share.

Bounce house, face painting, yard

games, and balloon animals for the kids!

CommunityNews

SPIRIT OF LIFE BLOOD DRIVE Have your blood pressure, temperature, pulse, cholesterol and iron level checked at the Spirit of Life Blood Drive on Thursday, July 26th from 3:00 to 6:00 pm. Call Mari Jo at 663-1660 to make an appointment or register online at www.bloodhero.com, Sponsor Code: H2321.

CHANT CAMP St. Anne's in Bismarck will be hosting Chant Camp Aug. 13-18. Chant Camp is a great opportunity for children ages 7-17 to receive training in sacred music and more deeply experience the beauty of the liturgy. The morning camp, Monday-Friday from 9:00 am-Noon, will culminate in the children singing for the Saturday vigil Mass at St. Anne's, followed by a family potluck. The camp is limited to 50 students. This year, a new component of organ master classes will be offered during the afternoons for students with keyboard skills (ages 10 and up). For more information and to register, visit www.stannesbismarck.org/chant-camp

TOWN AND COUNTRY CELEBRATION The annual Town and Country Celebration will be Sunday, August 5th in the Stanley/Donnybrook area in the northwestern part of the Diocese. Plan to come and enjoy a day of family fun, fellowship, food and Mass with Bishop Kagan. The event is hosted at the Wyatt and Becky Goettle farmstead, along with Fr. Jason Signalness and the parishioners of Queen of the Most Holy Rosary in Stanley and St. Ann in Berthold. Register at www.bismarckdiocese.com/TandC or call 204-7185. Registration is requested for accurate meal planning.

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, Michelle Niska, Viola Bitz, Bill Feist, Richelle Knudson, Dennis Barnhardt, Juleen Cunningham, Steve Wetzel

FINANCIAL BLESSINGS

ParishCalendar

WEEK COLLECTIONS BUDGET

July 1, 2018 $9,365.23 $13,794.00

July 8, 2018 $17,359.04 $13,794.00

Fiscal Year to Date

$26,724.27 $27,588.00

Monday, July 16 8:00 am Communion Service

Tuesday, July 17 8:00 am †Fran Braaten by Caroline Schaff

Wednesday, July 18 8:00 am †Donelle Graven by Bonnie Sanders

Thursday, July 19

8:00 am †Pauline Sadowsky by Family

Friday, July 20 8:00 am Reparation of Sins by KC Council #7602

Saturday, July 21

5:00 pm †Daniel Kuntz by George and Leona Kuntz

Sunday, July 22

8:00 am †Marilyn Bosch by Roy Bosch 9:30 am †Lucinda Schneider by Chuck and Mary Vetter 11:00 am People of the Parish

Question of the Week Adult: What good news of Jesus can you share with others this week? Child: What good news of Jesus can you share with others this week?

Weekly Schedule Monday, July 16 8:30 am Eucharistic Adoration Tuesday, July 17 7:30 pm Endow in Community Room Wednesday, July 18 12:00 Noon Finance Council Meeting Thursday, July 19 8:45 am Untold Blessing: Three Paths to Holiness 6:30 pm AED Training for Hospitality Ministers

Readings for the Week of July 15th:

Sunday: Am 7:12-15/Ps 85:9-10, 11-12, 13-14/

Eph 1:3-14/Mk 6:7-13

Monday: Is 1:10-17/Ps 50:8-9, 16bc-17, 21 and 23/

Mt 10:34—11:1

Tuesday: Is 7:1-9/Ps 48:2-3a, 3b-4, 5-6, 7-8/Mt 11:20-24

Wednesday: Is 10:5-7, 13b-16/Ps 94:5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 14-15/

Mt 11:25-27

Thursday: Is 26:7-9, 12, 16-19/Ps 102:13-14ab and 15,

16-18, 19-21/Mt 11:28-30

Friday: Is 38:1-6, 21-22, 7-8/Is 38:10, 11, 12abcd, 16/

Mt 12:1-8

Saturday: Mi 2:1-5/Ps 10:1-2, 3-4, 7-8, 14/Mt 12:14-21

Sunday: Jer 23:1-6/Ps 23:1-3, 3-4, 5, 6/Eph 2:13-18/

Mk 6:30-34

“He instructed them to take nothing for the journey.” When Jesus sent his Apostles out, He sent them “two by two,” and He basically commanded them to take nothing on the journey: “no food, no sack, no money in their belts.” The point of the Lord is that all they needed was to trust in God. Jesus more or less says the same thing to us. As long as we trust in God, our needs will be met. That is easily said, but it is a bit daunting to actually do it. Yet, people have been doing that since Jesus’ time. It is one of the reasons that the Church has thrived for such a long time. There is a secondary reason for Jesus’ instructions though, one with which we may not be familiar. At that time there was a ruled that you could not enter a temple area with shoes or a moneybag, because you were there to serve the Lord, nothing else and no one else. The Apostles understood that preaching the Gospel and healing in God’s name was holy work. Jesus did not want them to exemplify any other motive either. One of the foundational elements of stewardship is trusting God. What enables us to be good stewards and to think of giving to God first, of ourselves and what we have, is that we truly believe that God will take care of us. God has a plan for each of us, and it is better than our own plan may be.