About Church of the Ascension · Kettering, Ohio
Church of the Ascension is a Roman Catholic parish in Kettering, Ohio, a southern suburb of Dayton in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. Founded in 1955 by Father Arnold F. Witzman to serve the booming post-World War II Catholic population in the Kettering suburbs, the parish first worshipped in the Greenmont Community Center before moving into its own school/church building in 1956 and ultimately into its present-day church, completed in 1988. Today, Ascension operates alongside Ascension Catholic School (K-8), is home to one of three campuses of the Mother of God Family of Parishes (formerly the Kettering Catholic Community), and is known for its active faith formation, parish school, social outreach, and tight-knit community life in the Woodman Drive corridor of Kettering.
- Established
- 1955
- Patron
- The Ascension of the Lord (Jesus Christ)
- Rector
- Rev. Tom Nevels (Pastor of the Mother of God Family of Parishes; assigned to the Ascension campus)
- Diocese
- Archdiocese of Cincinnati (Roman Catholic)
Why belong here
Ascension is the founding and largest campus of the Mother of God Family of Parishes in the Kettering area, with more than six decades of Catholic life in the southern Dayton suburbs and a thriving K-8 parish school on the same Woodman Drive campus. The parish offers daily and Sunday Mass, Saturday confessions, robust children's and adult faith formation, OCIA (formerly RCIA), sacramental preparation, Edge middle-school and Ignite high-school youth ministry, a Knights of Columbus council, St. Vincent de Paul outreach, food-pantry and homeless-meal ministries, and a long-running parish festival tradition. For families seeking a parish with its own grade school, a deep sacramental life, multiple daily Masses, and a strong culture of lay leadership, Church of the Ascension is the natural home base in Kettering.
Mass times at Church of the Ascension
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:00 PM (Ascension campus; also regularly at 3:15 PM and 3:00 PM on scheduled days per the presider schedule)
- Saturday 4:00–4:30 PM at the Ascension campus (per catholicmasstime.org parish listing)
Adoration times
- Advent and Lenten Eucharistic Adoration facilitated by the Knights of Columbus (Monsignor Breslin Council 14995) at the parish
- Seasonal and First-Friday Eucharistic Adoration (offered for priests and vocations)
History of the Parish
Church of the Ascension was founded in June 1955 when Archbishop Karl J. Alter of Cincinnati appointed Father Arnold F. Witzman to organize a new parish in Dayton's fast-growing Kettering suburbs. The first Mass was celebrated in July 1955 at the Greenmont Community Center, with 1,090 worshippers and 131 families registered that first Sunday. Over the following decades, Ascension built and expanded its school (1956), basement church (1963) and present church (1988), grew under pastors Father Witzman (1955–1980), Father Rudy (1980–1992), Father Brinkmoeller (1992–2004), Father Worland (2004–2014) and Father Pratt (2014–2024), and in 2022 became the lead campus of the Kettering Catholic Community — renamed the Mother of God Family of Parishes on December 1, 2024.
- 1955 – Father Arnold F. Witzman appointed; first Masses in Greenmont Community Center
- 1956 – School building opens (also serves as church)
- 1962 – Groundbreaking for new church
- 1963 – Bishop Paul Leibold blesses new basement church
- 1966 – Convent opens for the Notre Dame Nuns teaching at Ascension
- 1980 – Father Witzman retires as Pastor Emeritus; Father Edward Rudemiller succeeds him
- 1988 – Parish Activity Center (PAC) and present church completed
- 1992 – Father David Brinkmoeller arrives; Father Rudy farewells
- 1995 – Parish celebrates 40th anniversary
- 2003 – Christ Renews His Parish begins at Ascension
- 2004 – Father Chris Worland becomes pastor
- 2014 – Father Ed Pratt returns as pastor (Ascension School alumna Susan DiGiorgio named principal)
- 2022 – Kettering Catholic Community formed under Beacons of Light
- Summer 2024 – Father Tom Nevels becomes pastor
- December 1, 2024 – Renamed the Mother of God Family of Parishes
Ascension Catholic School
Ascension Catholic School (2001 Woodman Drive) is the parish's parish school, founded in 1956 to serve Ascension families and currently enrolling roughly 305 students in kindergarten through 8th grade from about 230 families. The school is accredited by the Ohio Catholic School Accrediting Association (most recently re-accredited in 2019) and welcomes students of all faiths, cultures and economic levels. Susan DiGiorgio, herself an Ascension School graduate, has served as principal since 2014, leading a push to expand arts, sciences, field trips, and 1:1 Chromebook technology in junior high. The school shares its campus with the church and Parish Activity Center, connected by a 2000-built corridor.
- Founded 1956, first teachers were Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur
- Approximately 305 students in K-8, ~230 families
- Principal: Susan DiGiorgio (since 2014, first Ascension alumna to serve as principal)
- Re-accredited by the Ohio Catholic School Accrediting Association in 2019
- Phone: (937) 254-5411; [email protected]
Faith Formation and Sacramental Preparation
The Mother of God Family of Parishes runs coordinated faith formation from the Ascension campus under Director of Children's Faith Formation Tara Schumaker and team. Sacramental preparation for First Reconciliation and First Communion is normally done in 2nd grade, and Confirmation in 8th grade, with prerequisites of baptism and prior religious education. The OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults — formerly RCIA) under Christina Kreger prepares adults and teens for full initiation. Adult Faith Formation is led by Sarah Archuleta-Davalos, and the parish hosts Communio Nights on Sundays at St. Charles Borromeo with GIFT adult small faith groups, Life Nights for high schoolers, Edge for middle schoolers, and Edge Jr. for elementary-age children.
- First Reconciliation & First Communion — 2nd grade
- Confirmation — 8th grade
- OCIA (adults) — Christina Kreger, Director
- OCIT (teens) — also available
- Communio Nights — Sundays at St. Charles Borromeo (4:45–7:00 PM)
- Programs: GIFT, Life Nights, Edge, Edge Jr.
Youth Ministry
Ascension's youth ministry is coordinated by Amie Herbert, who runs the Edge middle-school and Ignite high-school programs for both Ascension and St. Albert the Great parishes. The programs meet as part of the wider Communio Nights on Sunday evenings and through other seasonal events, retreats, and service opportunities. Kelly Summers coordinates the parallel Edge and High School Youth Ministry at St. Charles Borromeo.
- Edge — middle school (Ascension & St. Albert)
- Ignite — high school (Ascension & St. Albert)
- Life Nights — high school
Parish Ministries and Outreach
The parish is home to a wide array of ministries. The Knights of Columbus Monsignor Breslin Council 14995 is heavily involved, sponsoring vocations essays, the Bottles for Babies campaign with Elizabeth's New Life Center, the Last-Sunday-of-the-Month pro-life Rosary, First Friday Eucharistic Adoration, and Advent/Lenten Holy Hours. The St. Vincent de Paul conference at Ascension provides emergency assistance to local neighbors in need. The Ascension Food Pantry and St. Nicholas Food Pantry feed local families, and volunteers regularly prepare meals for the homeless at Sts. Peter & Paul. Diakonia distributes funds to area non-profits including St. Brigid's Path, Catholic Social Services, Good Neighbor House, Good Shepherd Ministries, House of Bread, the Kettering Backpack Program, and others.
- Knights of Columbus — Monsignor Breslin Council 14995
- St. Vincent de Paul Society
- Ascension Food Pantry, St. Nicholas Food Pantry
- Feeding the Homeless at Sts. Peter & Paul
- Diakonia — agency giving & Neighbor Outreach
- Respect Life, Social Justice, Parish Partners, Greeters
- ABC Bereavement Community, Men's Awakening, Padre Pio Prayer Group
Worship, Music and Liturgical Life
Liturgical music at Ascension is led by Music Director Stephanie Klein and Associate Liturgical Musician Dave Timpone. Margaret Wager serves as Director of Worship for the family of parishes, coordinating liturgical ministers, lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, altar servers, ushers, and the music program across all three campuses. The 1988 church is the primary worship space, with the historic 1963 basement church footprint preserved as part of the campus heritage.
- Music Director (Ascension): Stephanie Klein
- Associate Liturgical Musician: Dave Timpone
- Director of Worship (family-wide): Margaret Wager
Mother of God Family of Parishes
Since July 1, 2022, Ascension has been one of three campuses of what was originally called the Kettering Catholic Community, formed under the Archdiocese of Cincinnati's Beacons of Light pastoral plan. On December 1, 2024, the family was renamed the Mother of God Family of Parishes, taking its name from the Council of Ephesus (431 A.D.) and the doctrine of Mary as Theotokos — 'God-bearer.' The three campuses are Church of the Ascension (2025 Woodman Drive), St. Albert the Great, and St. Charles Borromeo, sharing priests, faith formation staff, and sacramental preparation programs across the Kettering area.
- Beacons of Light pastoral plan — Archdiocese of Cincinnati
- Three campuses: Ascension, St. Albert the Great, St. Charles Borromeo
- Pastor: Fr. Tom Nevels (since summer 2024)
- Parochial Vicars: Frs. Tony Sanitato, Jeff Stegbauer, Trieu Hai Hoang
Stewardship and Education Fund
Ascension's Stewardship Commission includes a Buildings & Grounds Committee that maintains a 15-year Facilities Improvement Plan, reviewing capital repairs and updates. The parish also administers an Education Fund that provides tuition assistance for Ascension parishioners' children in elementary and high school, plus professional development and program support, with the explicit goal that no child in the parish is denied religious education for lack of funds. Ann Gross is the parish Finance Manager.
- Buildings & Grounds Committee — 15-year Facilities Improvement Plan
- Education Fund — tuition and program grants
- Finance Manager: Ann Gross ([email protected])
Getting Involved and New Parishioners
New parishioners are welcomed through the Parish Partners ministry, which provides orientation and information, and can register online via the parish's New Parishioner Registration page. Parish office hours are Monday–Thursday 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. and Friday 8:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. The parish encourages involvement in liturgical ministries (greeters, lectors, Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion, altar servers), the choir and music program, faith formation, youth ministry, outreach (St. Vincent de Paul, food pantries, Diakonia), and parish commissions (Stewardship, Social Action, Respect Life).
- Parish office: 2025 Woodman Drive, Kettering, OH 45420
- Phone: 937-253-5171
- Office hours: Mon–Thu 8:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m., Fri 8:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
- New parishioners register online at ascensionkettering.org/new-parishioner-registration
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Arnold F. Witzman1955–1980
Founding pastor; called by Archbishop Karl J. Alter in June 1955 from Cincinnati; celebrated first Mass in Greenmont Community Center in July 1955; led construction of school (1956) and basement church (1963); retired in 1980 as Pastor Emeritus; celebrated 40 years as a priest in 1976.
- Rev. Edward Rudemiller ('Father Rudy')1980–1992
Succeeded Father Witzman in August 1980; led 12-year surge of growth; oversaw completion of the Parish Activity Center (PAC) and the new church in 1988; bade farewell in 1992.
- Rev. David Brinkmoeller ('Father Dave')1992–2004
Arrived summer 1992; developed lay leadership; oversaw convent-to-rectory conversion (1993–1995), 40th anniversary (1995), and 1997 Strategic Plan; reassigned to St. Helen's in 2004.
- Rev. Chris Worland2004–2014
Came to Ascension in 2004 from elsewhere; led Christ Renews His Parish and major school renovations including a new gym floor, connector between school and church (2000–2001) and 2001–2004 building renewal; school celebrated 50th anniversary in 2006; reassigned to St. Albert the Great in 2014.
- Rev. Ed Pratt2014–2024 (present on family staff)
Returned to Ascension in 2014 after having served here earlier as a seminary intern; in 2022 became first Pastor of the Kettering Catholic Community under the Beacons of Light plan (Ascension, St. Albert the Great, St. Charles Borromeo); succeeded by Fr. Tom Nevels in summer 2024; continues to serve on the family staff.
- Rev. Tom NevelsSummer 2024–present
Became Pastor of the Kettering Catholic Community in summer 2024, then Pastor of the Mother of God Family of Parishes after its December 1, 2024 renaming.