Inter-Parochial Community

Inter-parochial groups are parish-based, sub-groups of large national or international organizations. See the General Directory link above for contact persons for each group. Our Sunday Bulletins also list contact phone numbers for parish groups.

WORLDWIDE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER is a positive weekend experience for good marriages making them better and stronger. It is recommended for couples married from one to fifty plus years. This is not a sensitivity group but rather a private, positive experience for each couple, where they are given new communication skills. Follow-up activities and support groups are available. For couples in troubled marriages, an associated program called RETROUVAILLE is available.

CURSILLO is a three-day retreat for those wanting to grow spiritually and to develop a deeper personal relationship with Jesus Christ. From Thursday evening through Sunday afternoon, participants meet with a team of lay persons and a priest, learning and experiencing what it means to be a Christian. The Cursillo weekend is often a deeply moving spiritual experience and follow-up is encouraged through active small group participation.

THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS, MSGR. JOHN T. DWYER COUNCIL 9851, is part of a Catholic, family, fraternal, service organization with 1.6 million members worldwide. In 1992, members collectively gave more than 50 million hours of volunteer service and donated over $100 million to charitable and benevolent causes. Established in 1988, the local council supports church, community, family and youth activities here at Ascension Parish. It invites all men to explore membership opportunities. Knights of Columbus members join together for spiritual retreats and in prayer for numerous intentions. But charity work is their most visible action. The Knights have raised funds to support a variety of programs such as diocesan seminarians, handicapped children and adults in our community, the ministry at the Newman Center, medallions for our altar servers, lighted Christmas statues for our outdoor manger scene, and much more. Knights Council 9851 activities web page.

THE SERRA CLUB is named for Father Junipero Serra, a California Franciscan missionary. Serra is an international organization of men and women with chapter clubs in 30 countries and has over 20,000 members. The objectives of Serra are to promote vocations to religious life, to develop an appreciation of vocations in the Catholic Church, and to further Catholicism by encouraging its members in fulfilling their vocation to service for the church. Serra is the only international organization in the world devoted solely to promoting and preserving religious vocations.