New here?

We want you to feel comfortable, curious and blessed when you visit the Church of the Ascension. Our style of worship is known as Anglo-Catholic, and a learning curve is normal here.

Please don’t hesitate to ask questions. We look forward to welcoming you and getting to know you.

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Our Masses

Worship Schedule

Your first experience here will likely be a mass – also sometimes called Eucharist or Holy Communion. Our three Sunday masses are each distinctive:

• a said mass with more traditional language (Rite I) at 8:00 a.m.
  
• a sung mass (Rite II) at 9:00 a.m.
  
• the Solemn High Mass at 11 a.m., beloved for its ritual and a ongoing tradition of glorious sacred music 
  

Our weekday masses differ in tone and substance.

• The two Wednesday masses  (12:05 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.) are spoken, reflective, simple.
  
• At our Saturday morning Mass for Healing, individual anointing and prayers are offered by the priest.

Those in the pews actively share in worship: standing, kneeling, praying, singing. You will  be given a printed leaflet with the order of worship when you enter the church. Even so, you may worry about what you should do. Please relax, pray and begin. Follow in ways that feel comfortable to you.

​Wear what you like. Arrive early or late. Share in all or part. Leave early if you must (and savor the final organ voluntary if  you stay!). And, again, we welcome your questions. 

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Our Parish

Many of our neighbors join the Church of the Ascension because it’s their neighborhood Episcopal/Anglican parish. They’re looking for a deeper faith, meaningful friendship, good preaching or opportunities to serve others. 

Ascension is also a destination. Many come from far and wide because they seek and value the unique pageantry and solemnity of our Anglo-Catholic worship and our cherished tradition of sacred music. Learn more about our community.

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What else?

• Opportunities for learning and fellowship are provided throughout the year, often in conjunction with holy day worship that includes not only Christmas, Epiphany, and Holy Week and Easter, but feasts including Presentation (Candlemas), Ascension Day, Corpus Christi, St. Mary the Virgin (Assumption), Michaelmas, All Saints, and All Souls. Keep current on our happenings with our weekly e-newsletter. 
• We provide food to over 150 households monthly through a first-Saturday food pantry that has become our primary outreach ministry. We welcome volunteers and donations. Learn more about our food pantry. 
• All sacraments and sacramental rites (including baptisms, weddings, last rites and funerals, and others) are approached with the same sincerity and care as our regular worship. 

Want to learn more? Feel free to contact with your questions: office@ascensionchicago.org. We look forward to hearing from you.