History

1890-1924:

(taken from ‘Ascension’s First Century 1890-1990’)

In February 1890, Church of the Ascension was established in what was then the northern most part of the rapidly growing city of Minneapolis. Archbishop John Ireland appointed Fr. Alexander Christie as its first Pastor. Although he only served the parish for three years, his accomplishments laid the groundwork for what became one of the largest parishes in the city of Minneapolis. He bought four lots, which included a house that became the rectory, and began construction of the first church building, all for just over $19,000.

Ascension’s next pastor, Fr. Jeremiah Harrington, arrived at Ascension on June 8, 1894. He served Ascension faithfully for thirty years until his death on June 8, 1924. Some of the highlights from Fr. Harrington’s thirty year tenure include building the first school, building a new church, purchasing and remodeling the first convent, and establishing the first parish hall in the old church.

Fr. Harrington bought four more lots, opened the doors to Ascension School in 1897, and called the Sisters of St Joseph of Carondelet to teach the pupils. The school began with three rooms, three sisters, and 160 students.

Next, Fr. Harrington turned his attention to building a new church, which was dedicated on May 24, 1903 by Archbishop Ireland. This beautiful church building has been a mainstay of the near north side of Minneapolis for almost a century.

In 1916, Fr. Harrington purchased, remodeled and enlarged a house on 18th and Bryant to be used as a convent until 1948, when Monsignor Dunphy purchased the lot next door and built a more modern convent for the sisters.

Ascension’s tradition of being a social and cultural center for the neighborhood began when Fr. Harrington converted the original wooden church structure into a parish hall. The tradition continued with the building of the Ascension Club and continues to this day. Eventually, the Club would feature a bowling alley, a swimming pool, a large auditorium/gymnasium, a dance studio and many club and class rooms.

1924-1955:

(taken from ‘Ascension’s First Century 1890-1990’)

Fr. John Dunphy became Ascension’s second thirty-year pastor with his appointment on January 24, 1925 by Archbishop Austin Dowling. Known as being loving, stern, feared, and respected, Monsignor Dunphy lead Ascension to the “glory days” as a bedrock of the large north side area.

At the peak of the Dunphy era, Ascension served 1,800 families and had 1,200 students enrolled in the school led by 25 teachers. Four assistant pastors served the parish under Fr. Dunphy. All but one teacher was a Sister of Saint Joseph led by principal Sister Aquin, who led the school for twenty years with a firm but gentle and loving hand.

Fr. Dunphy believed in the necessity for a good Catholic education and immediately began work on a new school. The new school building opened in 1928. The parish continued to flourish in the 1920’s and 1930’s despite the Great Depression. Many moved to the area to be near the vibrant church, school and club. According to former trustee Edward Gearty, “times were tough, jobs and money were scarce, and the worshipping community provided the structures to make more bearable the harsher demands of life.”

Dunphy was an enthusiastic sports fan, and Ascension Club became a mecca for many athletic teams. “Gus” Gustafson, renowed Ascension swim coach from 1940-1980, filled the trophy case with individual and team medals. Even the Minneapolis (now Los Angeles) Lakers practiced at the Club! The space was also rented out by a variety of organizations outside the parish, and many an assistant pastor was kept busy with youth groups, scouts, missions, and parishioner activities including the Holy Name Society, the Rosary Society and the Mens Club.

On March 17, 1947, Fr. John Dunphy was given the title of monsignor. In 1950, the year of his golden jubilee of his ordination, Monsignor Dunphy completed a handsome new convent for the sisters, who previously had been crowded into the parish’s two wood frame convents.

Monsignor Dunphy was ecumenical long before it became popular. He had friends of many faiths and often spoke at civic celebrations with Rev. Reuben Youndahl, pastor of Mount Olivet Lutheran Church, and Rabbi Albert Minda of Temple Israel.

Monsignor John Dunphy died on November 11, 1963 at the age of 89. He was pastor emeritus of a strong and vital Minneapolis parish empire. In his epilogue, Monsignor Dunphy wrote “…May there be a guarantee that Old Ascension, under God, shall never cease to bring Light and Warmth and Comfort to seeking souls…”

Fr. Patrick William Coates

Fr. Patrick William Coates started his tenure as Ascension’s third thirty-year pastor (he actually served at Ascension for fifty years!) two weeks after his ordination on June 1, 1940. Fr. Dunphy put Fr. Coates was in charge of the Club and he became involved with many of the youth groups, including the Catholic Action club, the Young People’s Sodality, swim teams, and bowling groups. He also started a summer program for North side kids which, in its peak in the 1960’s, had more than 500 participants.

He served as a Navy chaplain in World War II on the USS Newberry and watched from the ship as the Marines raised the flag on Mount Suribachi at Iwo Jima in 1944. He served on the USS Bremerton during the Korean War from 1950-1954 and was decorated with the Navy Reserve medal.

1956-1980:

(taken from ‘Ascension’s First Century 1890-1990’)

Upon his return to Ascension in 1954, Fr. Coates was appointed the parish’s auxiliary vicar to handle administration for Monsignor Dunphy. In January 1956, he was appointed Pastor and Monsignor Dunphy became the Pastor Emeritus.

Most Ascensionites remember Monsignor Coates as the ‘song and dance man’ who would stage a “Msgr. Coates and the Kids” act in the annual St Patrick’s Day show. For 32 years, from 1954 to 1986, Monsignor Coates donned a variety of costumes for the annual show, including a fireman (he was a Minneapolis fire department chaplain), Joe College (he was a drum major at St. Thomas College), a clown, a football coach, and as a Navy Captain.

Although dance instructor Dorothy Lundstrom said Coates was “the world’s worst dancer”, she was able to teach him four dance steps in twenty years. Fortunately, she had more success choreographing the annual St Patrick’s Day show and teaching north side kids to dance for over 60 years. The Lundstrom School still operates in the Ascension Club today.

Fr. Coates provided a steady and positive influence on the neighborhood during the tumultuous late 1960’s. Despite beatings, riots, shootings, bombings, fires, and National Guard presence in the neighborhood in 1967, Coates remained active in and dedicated to the north side community. He also served on the mayor’s committee to meet black riot leaders and negotiate a settlement.

Even with the drastic changes in the neighborhood, Coates remained a constant to the parish and the neighborhood. Many parishioners moved from the area to the suburbs for larger homes and yards. Others left after the riots of 1967. Still more left due to the construction of I-94 between Dowling Avenue North and downtown Minneapolis. Hundreds of parishioners had to vacate their homes starting in 1970 when freeway construction began. Even more moved to make room for the building of Franklin Junior High School in 1971.

“The parishioners gradually moved out,” recalls Monsignor Coates, “one or two at a time. Pretty soon a whole city block would be vacant.”

The parish experienced a steady decline in parishioners, students, and revenue starting in the late 1960’s. Fr. Coates started “Ascension Pride” as a way to stay connected with former Ascension families. Although many families left the neighborhood, their ties and memories of Ascension are still strong.

In January 1967, Father became Monsignor Patrick William Coates. Then, in his 1973 customary physical exam, doctors noticed a spot high on his chest x-ray. It was determined to be malignant, and Monsignor Coates spent a month at the University of Minnesota battling Hodgkin’s disease, a form of cancer. He returned for regular radiation treatments. A year later he was on stage for the annual St Patrick’s Day show with the kids. In 1975 he also suffered from complications from a stomach ulcer and then with pneumonia.

1981-Present:

(taken from ‘Ascension’s First Century 1890-1990’)

In June of 1981, Fr. Raymond G. Monsour came to Ascension as the co-pastor with Monsignor Coates. Monsour had served several parishes in St Paul and also served at the Archdiocesan mission in southeastern Venezuela from 1970-1974. In 1985, Coates retired completely and Fr. Monsour was named as Ascension’s fifth pastor.

Fr. Monsour helped transition Ascension into a parish that could meet the social and multi-cultural needs of the changing neighborhood. He presided at a monthly Spanish mass and also had periodic Native American masses. He fought for social and racial justice.

Fr. Robert Hazel was named Ascension’s sixth pastor in 1993.

After being without a permanent priest for six months, Fr. Michael J. O’Connell was installed as Ascension’s seventh pastor in October 1999. Ironically, Fr. O’Connell spent part of his deaconate year before ordination at Ascension. Learning from Monsignor Coates during that tumultuous summer of 1965 strongly influenced Fr. O’Connell’s views on racial issues and social justice. Also the Rector at the Basilica of Saint Mary, Fr. O’Connell is strongly committed to the revitalization of the near north side and to promoting and celebrating the many cultures in Ascension parish and Ascension School today.

We invite you to share in the rich history of Ascension School and the Church of the Ascension. We also invite you to be a part of Ascension’s bright and promising future…

Timeline:

February 1890 Church of the Ascension established by Archbishop John Ireland; Fr. Alexander Christie assigned as first pastor 1890-1894 Land and Rectory purchased; first church constructed. Expenses total over $19,000 June 1894 Fr. Jeremiah Harrington assigned as second pastor; serves for 30 years 1897 Ascension School opened; Sisters of Saint Joseph of Carondelet begin teaching at school December 1902 First Mass celebrated in new church building May 1903 Archbishop Ireland dedicates new church building 1916 House purchased, remodeled and enlarged on 18th and Bryant for a convent 1921-1922 Ascension Rectory and Ascension Club built—club features indoor pool, bowling alleys, gymnasium and auditorium June 1924 Fr. Jeremiah Harrington dies January 1925 Fr. John Dunphy assigned as third pastor; serves for 38 years 1928 New Ascension School building opened; Additional house purchased on 18th and Bryant for a convent; Dorothy Lundstum opens dance studio in Club and teaches dance for over 60 years June, 1940 Fr. Patrick William Coates named Assistant Pastor; serves parish for over 50 years Fall 1940 Carroll “Gus” Gustafson runs Ascension Pool and coaches swimming for 40 years 1943-1946 Fr. Coates on USS Newberry in Iwo Jima and Saipan for World War II March 1947 Fr. Dunphy elevated to Monsignor 1950 Golden Jubilee of Mnsgr. Dunphy’s ordination; new convent building built 1950-1954 Fr. Coates serves on USS Bremerton during Korean War and decorated with a Navy Reserve medal 1954 Fr. Coates assigned as Auxiliary Vicar to handle parish administration 1952-1986 Fr. Coates participates in annual St Patrick’s Day show January 1956 Fr. Coates assigned as fourth pastor and serves for 30 years; Mnsgr. Dunphy assigned at Pastor Emeritus 1960’s Parish population begins to decline November 1963 Monsignor John Dunphy dies 1967 Riots on north side of Minneapolis and National Guard called in; Fr. Coates elevated to Monsignor 1970 I-94 freeway construction begins and continues for ten years 1973 Mnsgr. Coates diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease June 1981 Fr. Raymond G. Monsour assigned as co-pastor 1985 Fr. Monsour named as fifth pastor and serves for eight years; Mngsr. Coates retires September 1991 Monsignor Patrick William Coates dies August 1993 Fr. Robert Hazel named as sixth pastor and serves for six years February 1999 Fr. Robert Hazel is reassigned and Ascension is without a permanent pastor October 1999 Fr. Michael J. O’Connell assigned as seventh pastor while also being Rector at Basilica of Saint Mary

Pastors of Ascension Parish:

1890-1894 Reverend Alexander Christie 1894-1924 Reverend Jeremiah Harrington 1925-1955 Reverend Monsignor John Dunphy 1956-1985 Reverend Monsignor Patrick William Coates 1985-1993 Reverend Raymond G. Monsour 1993-1999 Reverend Robert Hazel 1999-present Reverend Michael J. O’Connell