The Ascent movement is a movement for Christian men and women in their middle and late years, and was founded in France in 1951 by a retired priest.
The aim of an Ascent group is to show that our tasks as Christians are never over. Pope John Paul II has said “There is no retirement age for the Christian”.
For the physically active, there are a whole host of things they can do, in the family, the parish, in the community – working for the Church, working for the world according to their own God-given gifts and their present strength and ability.
Even if housebound or bedridden, all must be helped and encouraged to see that the many long hours spent on their own can be used fruitfully in prayer. Their prayers are invaluable and, as they have more time, their vocation is to deepen and develop their prayer life.
We meet to pray and deepen our understanding of the Gospel to discover Christ’s message for us at this stage in life by sharing our experiences, joys and sorrows. We also meet with Ascent Groups in Parishes throughout the country for retreats, conferences and celebrations.