Ascension c at h ol i c c h ur c h
A Busy Month Filled with Grace and Fellowship THIS MONTH’S LETTER FROM SEMINARIAN JOE SCHON
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anuary came and went very quickly for me. My last week in Bismarck was pretty eventful. I was able to spend time with the seminarians studying at St. Louis before they left for the new semester, and the other three college seminarians and I went to St. Mary’s Central High School and Trinity High School to talk to the high schoolers about our lives as seminarians. It was a gift to talk about the seminary, to talk to my former teachers and peers, and to spend some time with my brother seminarians. On the 13th, another seminarian and I drove all the way to Washington, D.C., to begin our new semester there. We woke up early on the 13th and
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remains unlocked every day for parishioners who wish to come to pray on their own. Parishioner Carol Reinert initiated a new outreach ministry amid the pandemic, creating goodie baskets for 45 homebound parishioners. The baskets were delivered for May Day, Halloween and Christmas. Deacon John Paul Martin connected with many of the ill and homebound through visits, phone calls, and the distribution of Holy Communion. Msgr. Braaten reached out to all parishioners during the Christmas season with a recorded telephone message. And for those who have returned to in-person Mass, our Hospitality Ministers are ensuring social distancing during the liturgy and sanitizing the pews after each Mass. As a people created for community as brothers and sisters in Christ, one of the most difficult challenges during the pandemic has
14th in order to make it back in time. The drive took about 25 hours. We were able to take a COVID test immediately, and the next day the whole seminary was able to take off their masks as we all came back negative. We spent the rest of the weekend playing sports and preparing for the fiveday retreat that usually starts our spring semester. The five-day retreat was led at a retreat house in Pennsylvania. We had a retreat “master” who gave us two conferences every day. The topic of continued on back cover
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been the decrease in opportunities to gather as a faith family. “[While public Masses were suspended], our parishioners missed seeing Msgr. Braaten and were concerned about his health and safety, as well as the opportunity to receive Communion,” says Business Manager Beth Kathol. “The social aspect of parish events and even simply being able to visit in the foyer after Mass has been greatly missed. We haven’t been able to be in community, and that is a huge part of the Catholic faith.” However, even during these challenging times, there have been many unexpected blessings. “Our parishioners developed a deeper appreciation for the Eucharist and the opportunity to attend daily Mass if desired,” Beth says. “For those families who chose to do at-home Faith Formation with their children, a greater appreciation for our catechists was
developed. Many of these parents have commented numerous times to our office about how much they have grown closer to their children and have connected with them on a much more spiritual level.” Understanding how difficult this past year has been for our Catholic faithful, Msgr. Braaten and the parish staff are greatly heartened to see the continued discipleship of our parishioners and look forward to the day we can all come together in faith and fellowship once more. “My foremost hope is that our parishioners come back to Mass,” Beth says. “We want to return to Ascension’s welcoming ways, such as the First Friday Fellowship as one example. We hope to expand on our Youth and Adult Faith Formation opportunities, and pray that families that have bonded and grown together spiritually from at-home study continue to nourish that gift.”
