The new year is filled with hope and promise as we seek to grow our vital ministries, explore new ways to share the good news of Christ’s love, and reflect His care and mercy to those in need throughout the community. To continue to make a difference in 2026, Roman Catholic Church of Ascension is reaching out to our parishioners.

Begin the new year with eGiving to help sustain and build ministries throughout 2026 that reflect the steadfast promise of God’s love. The need is great in our community, and your generous online gifts will help people all around us.

We prayerfully request that you consider signing up for eGiving from your computer, smartphone or tablet. You can set up a recurring donation or make a one-time gift. Sign up today by visiting faith.direct/NY588, or text ‘Enroll’ to (Text-to-Give Number). Thank you for your continued support of our parish family.

God Bless You,   
Fr. Kearney

Dear Parishioners and Friends of Ascension,
Today we celebrate the Seventh Sunday of Easter, a very special moment in the life of the Church. On Thursday we celebrated the Ascension of the Lord, recalling how Jesus returned to the Father forty days after the Resurrection. Before ascending, however, Jesus made a promise to his disciples: they would not be left alone. He promised to send the Holy Spirit upon them.
These days between the Ascension and Pentecost are days of waiting, prayer, and expectation. The Apostles gathered together in prayer with Mary, waiting for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit that would strengthen and guide them for the mission ahead. In many ways, the Church invites us to enter into that same spirit of prayerful waiting. We too live in a world filled with uncertainty, fear, division, and anxiety. Like the first disciples, we are called to trust that God continues to guide His people through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Next Sunday we will celebrate Pentecost, the great day when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles and the mission of the Church truly began. Pentecost will also bring the Easter Season to its conclusion. During these final days of Easter, perhaps we might ask the Lord to open our hearts more deeply to the presence of the Holy Spirit in our own lives — that same Spirit who gives wisdom, courage, peace, and hope.
As many of you know, on Sunday, April 19th, following the 11:00 AM Mass, we gathered as a parish community for an hour of prayer, reflection, and conversation about the state of our world and how our faith calls us to respond. Grounded in the principles of Catholic Social Teaching, the gathering was intended to create a space where people could share openly, listen respectfully, and seek signs of hope together.
We began with prayer, and then each participant was given a few minutes to speak from the heart. One of the most encouraging aspects of the afternoon was the spirit of respect and attentiveness that marked our conversation. People listened carefully to one another, even when perspectives differed. In a world where division and anger often dominate public conversation, simply coming together in a spirit of prayerful dialogue was itself an act of faith and hope.
On Sunday, May 31st, we will hold a follow-up gathering after the 11:00 AM Mass. This gathering will be a little different. We will begin once again with prayer. Fr. Ciorra, Deacon Nelson, and I will offer a brief reflection on what we believe we heard during our first gathering. Rita Hoolihan has also agreed to provide resources and suggestions for parishioners who may wish to become involved with organizations working in areas such as immigration, poverty, and peace initiatives. We will then invite those present to share their thoughts as we continue discerning what more we may be called to do as a parish community after the summer months.  .
One important theme clearly emerged from our first gathering: prayer must remain at the center of our lives. If we hope to become instruments of healing, peace, and change in the world, that transformation must first begin within each of us. On the 31st, we will pray a prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus together with a prayer for discernment
To that end, we will celebrate Solemn Vespers on the Eve of the Feast of the Sacred Heart at 6:00 PM – that will be on Thursday, June 11th. I hope many of you will mark your calendars and join us for this special evening of prayer as we ask the Lord to renew our hearts and guide our parish community in the months ahead.  Our choir will lead us in the prayerful singing of Vespers
We continue to pray for Jesus’ farewell gift of peace.

Peace, Fr. Kearney

We are reminded as Christians to pray, fast, and give alms to the less fortunate. St. Paul tells us that we must, “Bear [our] share of hardship for the gospel.” In living a Christian life, we are asked to make sacrifices for the good of others and for the good of the Church. 

Many parishes will experience financial hardship in the near future, and most will struggle to meet critical needs. We understand that the financial circumstances of many of our families are uncertain, but please know of our deep gratitude for whatever you can contribute to support our Church during this challenging time.

If you would like to make a gift to the Cardinal’s Appeal to support the broader needs of our archdiocese, you can do so at

https://cardinalsappeal.org/donate.

We are truly grateful for your generosity. Please know that we will continue to pray for those caring for the sick, and those that are the

most vulnerable among us.