A Catholic Parish in Norwood Young America
Church of the Ascension sits on Reform Street in Norwood Young America, Minnesota, serving Catholics in this small Carver County community. The parish shares a pastor and a faith formation program with St. Bernard, the sister parish a few miles east in Cologne. Together the two parishes operate under the Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis as the Parishes of Church of the Ascension and St. Bernard.
Mass at the Ascension
Weekend Masses at Church of the Ascension are celebrated on Sunday morning at 8:00 a.m. and on the 2nd, 4th, and 5th Saturdays of the month at 5:00 p.m. Weekday Masses are held on Tuesday at 6:15 p.m. and Friday at 8:00 a.m. The Sunday celebration in the 8:00 a.m. slot fits well with families who want to keep the rest of the weekend open, and the Saturday vigil offers an alternative for those whose Sundays are full.
Sacrament of Reconciliation and Adoration
The confessional at Church of the Ascension is open on Tuesdays from 5:45 to 6:05 p.m., just before the Tuesday evening Mass, and on the 2nd, 4th, and 5th Saturdays from 4:30 to 4:50 p.m. before vigil Mass. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is also available by appointment with Fr. Abraham.
Eucharistic Adoration is offered every Tuesday from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m., spanning the hours leading into confession and evening Mass. Parishioners who want to sit quietly with the Blessed Sacrament, pray the rosary, or simply find a midweek pause find the church open during this window.
Sacraments and Sacramental Prep
Baptisms are scheduled by appointment. First Communion and Confirmation are reached through the two-year Faith Formation program that the parishes share. Couples preparing for marriage are asked to contact Fr. Abraham right after the engagement; the couple must meet with him twice in the six months leading up to the wedding date. The Sacrament of the Sick is arranged by calling the parish office.
Faith Formation from Pre-K Through Confirmation
The combined Faith Formation program begins in Pre-K and runs continuously through Confirmation, which is celebrated at the end of a two-year program that begins in 9th grade. Pre-K through 3rd grade uses the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, a Montessori-based approach that pairs hands-on work with stories of Jesus and the Church. 4th and 5th graders follow The Great Adventure Bible Timeline, while middle school students use the Edge program.
Classes meet weekly, and families have the option of adding a Faith Formation dinner to the evening. The dinner is a practical help for families coming from sports or other activities and an easy way for families to meet one another.
Parish Office and Staff
The parish offices at Church of the Ascension are open Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Fr. Abraham Kochupurackal CMI serves as pastor of both parishes. Virginia Hanson is the business administrator, Sarah Smith serves as bookkeeper and safe environment coordinator, and Carla La-Bore directs Faith Formation for both parishes.
Get Involved
The parish handles online giving, sacramental registration, and ongoing event information. Bulletins are posted regularly online, and a children's bulletin is available each week for younger members of the family who want their own page during Mass.