HISTORY

    Prior to the founding of what came to be Ascension Parish in 1980, most Catholics in the Teays Valley area belonged to St. Francis Church in St. Albans or Holy Trinity Church in Nitro. Due to the dedication of a small group of people, the dream of having a Catholic parish in Putnam County became a reality.

In 1979 Bishop Joseph H. Hodges established a mission in Hurricane. Fr. Laurence Wrenn was assigned to St. Francis in St. Albans as Associate Pastor with the additional responsibility of establishing a mission in Hurricane. In the Spring of 1980 a Church Advisory Council was created with the purpose of obtaining a church building for the Catholics in the Teays Valley area. With diocesan assistance an architect was hired and plans were approved. On September 14, 1980 the Mission in Hurricane was elevated to a parish and Fr. Wrenn was named its first pastor. On May 28, 1981, the Feast of the Ascension, the first Mass was celebrated at Ascension Parish.

The growth of the parish from a small handful in the late 1970s to 500 families has been phenomenal. The continuing growth is a testament to the warmth and commitment of parishioners and the power and presence of the Holy Spirit.

Relics of the Seven Blessed Martyrs of Thailand

A wooden tabernacle with glass doors displays a golden monstrance with a cross and intricate design, set against red fabric. A crown of thorns rests on top of the tabernacle, which is mounted on a wall.

    Blessed Philip Siphong (33), Blessed Sister Agnes Phila (31), Blessed Sister Lucia Khambang (23), Blessed Agatha Phutta (59), Blessed Cecilia Busti (16), Blessed Bibiana Khamphai (15), Blessed Maria Phorn (14)

    Beatified by Pope John Paul II on October 29, 1989

    In 1940, seven Catholics were executed in Songkhon in Northern Thailand, Police accused them of being spies for the French during that country’s war with Thailand, even though three were only young teenagers.

    At the time in Thailand there was some persecution of Christians, despite the fact that Christianity had been in the country for nearly 400 years. All of the villagers of Songkhon were Catholic. The priest was banished from the village, and Blessed Philip Siphong Onphitak, 33. A catechist, offered spiritual guidance and comfort to others. He was shot and killed on December 16, 1940.

    Two nuns, Blessed Sister Agnes Phila, 31, and Blessed Sister Lucia Khambang, 23, were members of the congregation of Lovers of the Cross. They stepped in after the catechist’s death to teach the faith. Police told them to stop wearing their religious habits, but they would not. The nuns, and several other women, Blessed Agatha Phutta, 59; Blessed Cecilia Busti, 16; Blessed Biblana Khampai, 15, and Blessed Maria Phon, 14, were killed in the parish cemetery as they sang hymns on December 26, 1940.

Our Beloved Priests and Religious

A smiling man wearing a black clerical shirt with a white collar and a black blazer, posing against a plain grey background.
A smiling older man with short hair and glasses wears a black suit and clerical collar, posed against a plain gray background.
A smiling older man with a bald head, white goatee, and wearing glasses, dressed in a black clerical shirt with a white collar and a dark blazer, posed against a plain dark background.
A middle-aged man with short gray hair, wearing a black clerical suit and white collar, smiles at the camera against a softly blurred background.
An older man with glasses, wearing a black suit and a clerical collar, sits against a plain gray background, facing the camera and smiling slightly.
A woman with short brown hair, glasses, and a yellow sweater smiles at the camera while seated at a table. She wears a green turtleneck under the sweater and a necklace with a cross pendant. Food and drinks are on the table.
A smiling, bald man wearing glasses and a clerical collar with a black suit jacket, posed against a plain gray background.
An older man with neatly combed gray hair is smiling. He is wearing a black clerical shirt with a white collar and a black jacket, posed against a plain gray background.
A middle-aged man with glasses, short thinning hair, and wearing a black clerical shirt with a white collar, smiles while posing against a plain gray background.