About Ascension · Bowie, Maryland
Ascension Catholic Church is a historic parish in the Huntington area of Bowie, Maryland, canonically established in 1893 and served by Jesuit priests in its earliest decades. Today it belongs to the Archdiocese of Washington and is pastored by Rev. Timothy G. Daniel, with a Sunday Mass schedule of three services and a daily 9:00 AM Mass Monday through Saturday. The parish is also home to a Syro-Malankara Catholic community served by Rev. Manoj Mammen. Worship is enriched by regular Eucharistic Adoration and the parish maintains a small on-site cemetery and the adjoining Bates Hall for parish life.
- Established
- 1893
- Patron
- The Ascension of the Lord
- Rector
- Rev. Timothy G. Daniel
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Washington
Why belong here
Ascension is one of the oldest parishes in the Bowie area, with roots reaching back to 1893 and a tight-knit community that rebuilt itself after the 1977 fire that destroyed the original church. Worship is centered on three Sunday Masses and a daily 9:00 AM Mass Monday through Saturday, with regular Eucharistic Adoration before and after daily Mass, on Monday evenings, and perpetually in the Our Lady of Czestochowa Chapel. Parish life includes an active Religious Education program, a Youth Ministry, Knights of Columbus and Ladies Auxiliary of the Knights of St. John, Vacation Bible School, youth retreats, and Share & Care meetings — offering something for every age and stage of family and faith life.
Mass times at Ascension
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- 20 minutes before every daily Mass (Mon–Sat)
- Saturday, 3:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Adoration times
- In church before and after every daily Mass (8:00 AM – 10:00 AM)
- In church Monday nights, 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM
- Perpetual adoration before the tabernacle in Our Lady of Czestochowa Chapel (call the office for the entry code)
Our History
Ascension Catholic Church was established in the Huntington area of Bowie in the late nineteenth century to serve railroad-employee families. Founded by the Jesuit Fathers with Father Michael A. Noel, S.J., as the first pastor, the cornerstone was laid in late 1893, the church was dedicated by Cardinal Gibbons, and 144 faithful were confirmed on September 9, 1894. The parish grew steadily through the twentieth century around its landmark steeple, 1903 McShane bell, treasured Ascension painting, and small on-site cemetery. A devastating fire on November 27, 1977, destroyed the eighty-four-year-old church, but the community rebuilt: McNamara's Barn became a temporary worship space, Bates Hall was constructed, and in November 1986 Volpe Construction Company completed the present church, which was fitted with pieces from Sacred Heart and St. Aloysius in Washington and a Kolbe tapestry from Pope John Paul II.
- 1893 — cornerstone laid; Fr. Michael A. Noel, S.J., founding pastor
- 1894 — Cardinal Gibbons dedicates the church
- 1902 — rectory built by the Wyvil brothers
- 1903 — church bell cast by the McShane Bell Foundry of Baltimore
- 1977, Nov 27 — fire destroys the original church before 3:00 AM
- 1977–1979 — McNamara's Barn serves as temporary 'parish church'
- 1986, November — new church completed by Volpe Construction Company
- 1996, Fall — $2.4 million debt retired under Fr. Henry Januszkiewicz
- 1998 — new rectory built under Fr. James Betz and Fr. Sam Craig
- 2014 — Fr. Larry Young assigned pastor; Patio/Gathering Space Project begun
- 2020 — Fr. Tim Daniel assigned pastor; continues project and emphasizes sacraments and family life
Parish Staff & Clergy
Ascension is pastored by Rev. Timothy G. Daniel, who was assigned in 2020. The pastoral team also includes Rev. Manoj Mammen, serving as Pastoral Assistant for the Syro-Malankara Community; Deacon Emmanuel Abongwa; Secretary Sharon Fanning; Coordinator of Religious Education and Youth Minister Emma Bigony; and Bookkeeper Jeana Barber.
- Rev. Timothy G. Daniel — Pastor
- Rev. Manoj Mammen — Pastoral Assistant, Syro-Malankara Community
- Dcn. Emmanuel Abongwa — Deacon
- Ms. Sharon Fanning — Secretary
- Emma Bigony — Coordinator of Religious Education / Youth Minister
- Jeana Barber — Bookkeeper
Faith Formation & Religious Education
Religious Education at Ascension is coordinated by Emma Bigony, who also serves as Youth Minister. The parish supports families with programs for ongoing faith formation, sacramental preparation, and ongoing adult education — a priority emphasized by current pastor Fr. Tim Daniel.
- Religious Education program (Coordinator: Emma Bigony)
- Sacramental preparation for children
- Adult education (a stated growth priority under Fr. Daniel)
Youth Ministry & Retreats
Ascension's Youth Ministry serves parish youth with regular gatherings, adoration nights (such as 'YMin Adore & More'), youth retreats, and Vacation Bible School. A Youth Ministry Support Team coordinates logistics, retreat leadership, and general parish support; all adult volunteers working directly with youth must complete VIRTUS training and clearance through the Archdiocese of Washington, and drivers complete the Catholic Mutual online module.
- Youth Ministry gatherings and adoration nights
- Youth Retreats (annual permission form required)
- Vacation Bible School
- Youth Ministry Support Team (Logistics, Retreat Team, General Support)
- VIRTUS training and Catholic Mutual driving module required for adult volunteers
Parish Groups & Organizations
Lay organizations are woven into Ascension's parish life. The Knights of Columbus meets regularly, the Ladies Auxiliary of the Knights of St. John gathers after Sunday Mass, and the Share & Care group meets to support parishioners. The parish also hosts the Syro-Malankara Catholic Community under the pastoral care of Rev. Manoj Mammen.
- Knights of Columbus
- Ladies Auxiliary, Knights of St. John
- Share & Care (parish support group)
- Syro-Malankara Catholic Community (Eastern Catholic rite)
Sacraments & Liturgy
The parish celebrates the Sunday and weekday Eucharistic liturgy and offers the Sacrament of Reconciliation before daily Mass and Saturday afternoons. The current sanctuary contains sacred furnishings with deep regional Catholic history — a pulpit from Sacred Heart Church in Washington, shrines and altar salvaged from St. Aloysius during its renovation, the Ascension stained-glass window, and a tapestry of St. Maximilian Kolbe gifted by Pope John Paul II.
- Sunday Vigil and Sunday Masses
- Daily Mass (Mon–Sat)
- Reconciliation (Confession): 20 min before daily Mass; Sat 3:00–3:30 PM
- Eucharistic Adoration (daily, Monday nights, and perpetual)
Facilities: Church, Bates Hall, Cemetery & Chapel
Ascension's campus includes the present church (completed 1986), Bates Hall (built in the years after the 1977 fire as a gathering space and worship site), the parish rectory (built 1998 under Fr. James Betz), a small historic cemetery, and the Our Lady of Czestochowa Chapel housing perpetual Adoration. The original 1903 McShane Bell Foundry bell remains part of the parish heritage.
- Present church — completed November 1986 by Volpe Construction Company
- Bates Hall — built after the 1977 fire; serves as parish gathering space
- Rectory — built 1998 under Fr. James Betz and Fr. Sam Craig
- Our Lady of Czestochowa Chapel — site of perpetual Adoration
- On-site cemetery — earliest burial Robert Hicks (1856–1908)
Visit & Contact
Ascension Catholic Church is located at 12700 Lanham Severn Road, Bowie, Maryland 20720, and is wheelchair accessible. The parish office can be reached at 301-262-2227 or by email at [email protected]; the bulletin and updates are distributed through Flocknote.
- Address: 12700 Lanham Severn Road, Bowie, MD 20720
- Phone: 301-262-2227
- Email: [email protected]
- Wheelchair accessible
- Bulletin/updates via Flocknote
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Fr. Michael A. Noel, S.J.1893–
First pastor; cornerstone laid late 1893, church dedicated by Cardinal Gibbons in 1894.
- Fr. Henry Januszkiewicz
Oversaw design and construction of the new 1986 church; retired a $2.4 million debt in fall 1996; received the Maximilian Kolbe tapestry from Pope John Paul II.
- Fr. James Betz
With associate Fr. Sam Craig, began construction of the new rectory in 1998.
- Fr. Joseph Calis
Assigned to the community after Fr. Jim's pastorate closed.
- Fr. William Goode (retired)
Remained in residence during the next two pastors.
- Fr. Kyle Ingels
Subsequently returned to the Diocese of Colorado Springs as pastor.
- Fr. Juan Esposito-Garciaassigned early 2014
Served as administrator.
- Fr. Larry Youngassigned 2014
Broke ground on the Patio/Gathering Space Project at the entrance to the church.
- Rev. Timothy G. Danielassigned 2020
Current pastor; completed the Patio/Gathering Space Project and has prioritized sacraments and family life.