743 SE 76th Avenue
Ascension is a friendly church located on the back side of Mount Tabor in what I believe is the Montavilla neighborhood. Architecturally it is not a very interesting church. The red brick exterior is plain and boxy. The only thing architecturally interesting about the interior is the exposed beams made of 8 or so 2 x 6 boards, many of which were curved during the manufacturing process to produce arched beams. This is a look I have seen in several Portland churches that appear to have been built in the same era -- late 60s or early 70s. There were some interesting paintings in the church that certainly enhanced its ambiance.
The ethnic make-up of the church was predominately White with Hispanics being a close second. There was a smattering of Asians and no Blacks. There were many families with young children.
At the 10:30 am Mass there was a good-sized choir accompanied by a guitarist, pianist, drummer, bassist and percussionist with that instrument that looks like a wind-chime with 20 or so metallic strips hanging down. The music was fine but I am not a fan of drum sets in church. It produces music that is too rousing for the circumstances -- especially when the drummer steps on the bass drum pedal. The problem with music that is so rousing is that the parishioners remain "un-roused." They continue to sing in a subdued fashion or not at all, producing an incongruency between the music and the response to the music that creates an unpleasant tension and is distracting. Since a bunch a Catholics are not apt to let loose and really sing, the cure is to tone down the music so as not to overwhelm the parishioners' singing.
The Franciscans have run the parish since 1915. Fr. Ben Innes, OFM, is the pastor. Based upon remarks made in his homily I am led to believe that he goes by the nickname of "Big Ben." He is not a small man. He gave an interesting sermon that included a "stay tuned for part 2 next week" that made me want to hear the rest.
