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Ascending Life: A Program for Seniors
"Ascending Life" serves the older members of our community. On specified Sundays they meet after the 9 a.m. Mass at the Sacred Heart Center. Their program focuses on three main aspects: Friendship, Service, and Spirituality.
What is "Ascending Life"?
It is a lay apostolate movement that brings elders together. It is a spiritual experience. It is the evangelizing of a stage of life to see it and live it according to the Gospel. It has its own charisma and mystique: spirituality, friendship, and apostolate. It uses small group dynamics combined with other methods (retreats, lectures, outings, etc).
Why is it called "Ascending Life"?
Because it is life that is growing, ascending. Experience and human maturity continue to grow in the third age. Older persons hunger for a spiritual life, they feel closer to God, and they have more time to think and pray. It is not life ascending to heaven, but rather, life growing here and now towards a human and Christian fullness.
How did it start?
"Ascending Life" was born in Paris, France with a group of retirees searching for a fuller meaning for their lives and wanting to contribute to the betterment of society with their wisdom and experience. In 1962, the French hierarchy gave official approval to a lay apostolate movement called "Vie Montante." This movement soon spread throughout France and to other European countries. In 1985, when the First International Encounter was held in Rome, it included groups from Asia, Africa, North & South America.
Pope John Paul II
"Dear Ascending Life friends, I see that your family has expanded since our encounter in 1982. In several continents and numerous countries, persons in the third age get together according to the Christian uniqueness of your movement.....All this is fortunate for the Church, and I encourage you to follow your road to ascend together in the love of God and others, living now the universal Catholic dimension of your association, taking into consideration the values, cultures, and social realities of different people and civilizations."
For more information, please read " PONTIFICAL COUNCIL FOR THE LAITY"
Vatican documents:
The Dignity of Older People
and their Mission
in the Church and in the World
Ascending Life is open to parishioners of all nationalities and cultural backgrounds. For further information and transportation contact Tony Holbrooke at 954-646-0500 or call the Rectory at 954-431-3600.
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