November 24, 1955: Father Arnold Witzman addressing new Ascension parishioners during groundbreaking ceremony

In June of 1955, Father Arnold F. Witzman receives a call from Archbishop Karl J. Alter to move from Cincinnati to Dayton to organize a new parish, Ascension of Christ into Heaven, which later became Church of the Ascension in Kettering, Ohio. A month later, the first Mass was offered in the Greenmont Community Center. First Sunday attendance (for three Masses held at 8 am, 10 am, and 11:30 am) was 1090, with 131 families registered. That was the beginning.

ASCENSION HISTORY

During the next seven years, the parish passes many milestones:

  • November 1955 - Groundbreaking ceremonies at the site of the new school by Fr. John Rauscher

  • July 1955 - Official cornerstone laying by the Most Rev. Clarence G. Issenmann

  • September 1956 – School building opens (Mass celebrated here)

  • November 1956 - Flag raising, dedication and blessing of the new school; administration of the Sacrament of Confirmation by the Most Rev. Karl J. Alter

  • July 20-21, 1957 - First parish summer festival (continues until 1965)

  • August 1960 – Rectory construction begins

  • September 1962 - Groundbreaking for new church

  • July 1963 – Bishop Paul Leibold blesses new basement church and offers First Mass

  • October 1966 – Convent opens for the Notre Dame Nuns who taught at Ascension

  • September 1976 - Kindergarten begins under Miss Rebecca Ott

  • First five principals of Ascension School were as follows:

    • Sister Gertrude, S.N.D.: 1956-1958

    • Sister Alice Therese, S.N.D.: 1958-1963

    • Sister Maura, S.N.D.: 1963-1969

    • Sister Kathleen Burns, S.N.D.: 1969-1970

    • Mr. Walter Miller: 1970-1982 (Ascension's first lay principal)


    Father Witzman retires in 1980 to become Pastor Emeritus. Father Edward Rudemiller (Father Rudy) ushers in a new era in August of 1980. During his 12 years as pastor, Ascension experiences a new surge of growth:

    • 1981 – Outdoor Festival Returns

    • 1982 – Sister Maureen Heavey, R.S.M., becomes school principal

    • 1988 – Parish Activity Center (the PAC) and the new Church completed

Father Rudy’s farewell in 1992 marks another turning point for Ascensionites. Father David Brinkmoeller arrives that summer. Under his guidance, Ascension builds upon the past, developing a much-needed lay leadership, continued commitment to being a praying, caring, teaching, serving parish.

  • 1990s Events and Celebrations:

    • 1993-1995 - Convent transformed into the Rectory

    • 1995 – Parish Celebrates its 40th Anniversary

    • 1996 – 25th Anniversary of Father Dave’s Ordination

    • 1997 – Strategic Plan developed

    • 1999- Brent Devitt becomes principal of Ascension School

    • 2003 - Christ Renews His Parish begins

    The dreams and achievements of yesterday—lighting the way to the future.

In 2004, Father David Brinkmoeller is assigned to St. Helen’s and Father Chris Worland comes to Ascension to continue the tradition.

  • 2009 - Fiesta Latina and the Refugee Resettlement Freedom have their beginnings; Our Lady of the Light chapter of the Knights of Columbus founded

  • 2010 - Martha and Mary women's group founded

  • 2013 - Rectory transformed into Notre Dame Center

  • 2014 - Susan Digiorgio becomes first Ascension School graduate to be School Principal

In 2014, Father Chris Worland is assigned to St Albert. Father Ed Pratt, who had served Ascension as a Seminary intern, arrives at Ascension as Pastor.

During the Summer of 2022, the Kettering Catholic Community was created as a result of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati Beacons of Light Pastoral Plan. Father Ed Pratt became the Pastor of a family of parishes: Church of the Ascension, St. Albert the Great Parish, and St. Charles Borromeo Parish. Two other priests joined this family: Fr. Tom Nevels and Fr. Chibueze Asiegbulem. For more details about Beacons of Light, go to https://catholicaoc.org/beacons-of-light/learn-more.

During the Summer of 2024, Fr. Tom Nevels becomes the pastor of the Kettering Catholic Community, and the two other priests are Fr. Chibueze Asiegbulem and Fr. Tony Sanitato.

On December 1, 2024, the Kettering Catholic Community became known as the Mother of God Family of Parishes.  In the 5th century, a preacher named Nestorius gained popularity by preaching that Jesus was not united in his human and divine natures.  He argued, for example, that Jesus did not have a divine nature in the womb, and so Mary could be called the Mother of Christ, but not the Mother of God.  This teaching threatened to divide the Church, so the Roman Emperor Theodosius II called an ecumenical council to settle the matter.  This council, which met during the summer of 431, condemned the teachings of Nestorius, and declared Mary as the Theotokos – “God-bearer”.  This teaching is built on the doctrine that Jesus is fully divine, even in the womb; and fully human, even as he redeems our sins.  And so while the title “Mother of God” honors Mary, it is more about glorifying Jesus as fully human and fully divine from eternity to eternity.  Since the Reformation, however, the title “Mother of God” is one that has been closely connected to the Catholic and Orthodox Churches.  Not only does the name Mary, Mother of God honor our Blessed Mother, it clearly marks us as a Catholic community, and serves as a reminder to all that our three parishes are dedicated to honoring Christ, defending the lives of the most vulnerable, and proclaiming truth.