Ascension Support the Missions

Throughout the school year, the Diocese Mission Office informs us of needs that we can help with, especially the needs of our sister diocese in the Dominican Republic. Classroom teachers then decide if these are projects they can help with.

Lenten Service Project

Ascension School students brought in rain coats and boots to help the children who live in our sister diocese in the Dominican Republic. The children who live in the moutains of San Juan de La Maguana frequently have to walk to school on steep moutainsides in the rain. Our Student Service Council collected the rain gear that our school children brought in.

Operation Rice Bowl

Ascension school children participate in Operation Rice Bowl each year during Lent. Operation Rice Bowl is the Lenten Program of Catholic Relief Services, the official overseas relief and development agency of the Catholic Community in the United States. 75% of your gifts to Operation Rice Bowl come to the Catholic Relief Services to fund development projects overseas and Lenten education efforts in the U.S. 25% of contributions
support hunger and poverty alleviation efforts in dioceses in the United States.

During the 2004-2005 school year, we collected money to contribute to Catholic Charities for the survivors of the tsunami in Southeast Asia. Already in 2005-2006 we have donated to the Sisters of Mercy in Gulfport Mississippi so they can help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Our efforts to help the victims of Katrina continue.

The Holy Childhood Association (HCA) is one mission that Ascension Catholic School has contributed to for many years. It is an international organization authorized by the Vatican, where children help children throughout the world. We collect money throughout the year in support of the HCA.

By our baptism we are all missionaries - called to share our faith in Jesus Christ with our family, friends, neighbors - indeed the whole world. Promoting mission awareness is essential to the development of young Catholics.

HCA encourages children to develop a universal missionary spirit by offering their prayers, personal sacrifices and financial help for the poorest of the world’s children. The Holy Childhood Association makes a difference in the lives of children throughout the world by bringing them Jesus’ message of hope, love and peace.

When your child brings their donation to school, it combined with donations from all the other students at Ascension and sent to the Holy Childhood Association mission office in New York City. Money collected by children in the United States is given directly to the missions. Missionaries use your money to spread the good news of Jesus and to provide children with food, clean water, clothes, books, medicine and desks for school. Last year, a thank you letter was sent telling us that our contributions were used to help build a school.

Children are encouraged to pray that children in other countries learn about Jesus and experience His love. They also pray to God to help children who are suffering because they are poor, hungry or sick. Children are also encouraged to make personal sacrifices. By giving up something very special in order to save money for the missions, they are showing their love for Jesus and for others. Jesus asks us to give and to share. When we do this we become more like Him.

The students of Ascension have collected $1,200.00 in the 2005-2006 school year for the Holy Childhood Association. Students are busy collecting money this school year as well.