History of Ascension Chinese Mission

            In the Fall of 1972, Fr. Francis Chang, S.J. came to Houston to serve the Chinese Catholic and Non-Catholic Community under the invitation of the Bishop John Morkovsky. Four years later in 1976, Chinese Mass became routinely celebrated every Sunday. Our first host was St. Ambrose Parish, but after some years of growth we moved to Strake Jesuit High School.
​                                In 1988, this Chinese Catholic community grew again to be able to rent a commercial unit on Corporate Drive. At that time, the Chinese Catholic Community was granted the canonical status of "Ascension Chinese Mission" by Bishop Joseph A. Fiorenza. In the Spring of 1991, Ascension Chinese Mission moved to her current permanent address. Fr. Francis Chang, S.J returned to the Lord in 1998.
            On July 30, 2000, Fr. Louis Zee was installed as Pastor of Ascension Chinese Mission, and served as pastor for sixteen years until he retired in 2016. Although retired, our beloved Fr. Louis continued to serve the Ascension community by celebrating liturgy until the arrival of Ascension's current pastor Fr. Roger Shuxin Zhang in 2016. From 2016 to 2019, Ascension Chinese Mission continued to live up to the "close-knit" label that visitors and new parishioners have given to the parish. Despite impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic of 2020, this small mission parish has still continued to grow and serve the Chinese and surrounding Catholic communities.

The LORD is my shepherd;  there is nothing I lack. - Psalm 23

Mission Statement ​使命宣言 

We are Catholics who immigrated to the United States from all over the world. We are Chinese by race and Catholic by our religious belief. Because of the Chinese Culture and Catholic faith, we have united together to form a family. In the Archdiocese we are established as the Ascension Chinese Mission (not limited to Chinese only but also as a Catholic parish). Enriched by Chinese Culture and tradition and following the Gospel of Jesus, we strive to build a better and more meaningful life on Earth. 

我們是一群來自世界各地而生活在美國的華人天主教信友。我們是華人，同時也是基督徒；共同文化與共同宗教信仰，使我們團結在休士頓教區的大家庭內，組成美華天主堂。為的是在中華文化與傳統下，按基督福音的精神而生活、使我們的人生更豐富及更有意義。藉著主日聖祭、聖事、祈禱、及其他多方面的參與，幫助每一位信友實現其領洗的誓願， 跟隨效法基督，做一個有名有實的基督徒；使整個團體真正成為基督的活體、 愛的團體、 天主子女的家庭。

The “A” in the English name of our parish “Ascension” is triangular in shape. Within it there is a candle; under it there is a command of Jesus: “You are the light (of the world).” -Matthew 5:14.  

​我們用本堂英文名稱Ascension的第一個字母" A" 繪成三角形；內有燭光；下有基督的訓言：「你們是（世界的）光明」
​（瑪5：14）

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The Triangle

It symbolizes the “Trinity” -- Source of all things, object of our faith. It also symbolizes “A Holy Temple” -- the place where God and His chosen people can interact. It also symbolizes “The Mystical Body of Christ” -- that is, Christ and His followers form one body for life and for action.  

The Lighted Candle

lt symbolizes “The Risen Christ, the Glory of God.” It is the Light of World. The candlelight also reminds us of the lighted candle that we received at our baptism. Furthermore, this candlelight symbolizes our mission -- to enlighten the world.

The Pyramid

Our logo also looks like a pyramid: It symbolizes the immigrant nature of American society, wave after wave, the immigrants came, they struggle and labor hard to build the American society into a great pyramid. The pyramid is also an arrowhead pointing toward the sky; it symbolizes the noble spirit of the Chinese who strive to establish themselves in the American society. In the struggle for betterment, the lighted candle symbolizes the FAITH, the spiritual resources from which the Chinese Catholics draw their strength.  ​

三角形

象徵「天主聖三」—萬有的起源，我們信仰的對象；它也象徵「聖殿」—天主與其選民交往的場所；它是「基督的奧體」—即由基督與信者結合而形成的生活機體。

燭光

象徵「榮光之主，復活的基督」；祂是照世的光明；同時燭光也象徵我們受洗時所接受的燭光，以及那燭光所象徵的使命—做照世的光明

金字塔

三角形也像金字塔：它象徵美國移民的社會，好像金字塔；在這個社會裏，新來的移民必須吃苦耐勞、犧牲奮鬥、一步一步向上爬。同時金字塔猶如指向天空的箭頭，象徵人在美國社會中，努力上進、步步高升的精神與成就；而在這艱苦的奮鬥中，燭光則象徵華人信友精神力量的泉源：我們的信仰。​

​Located in Houston's Chinatown District, Ascension Chinese Mission is surrounded by a diverse environment of Asian and Pacific Island cultures.



Ascension is a Chinese Mission Parish, but it is a diverse community, open to people of all cultures!