“Blessed John Paul II was one of the greatest popes we have ever had. I am pleased that our diocese will have a parish named after our newly beatified Holy Father,” Bishop Paprocki said. 

If and when Blessed Pope John Paul II is canonized, the parish would automatically become St. John Paul II Parish.

“Father Larry Anschutz (parochial administrator) has worked with the parishes over the years to prepare them for a future consolidation,” said Marlene Mulford, chancellor and the diocesan director of planning. “This has been a tremendous help to the people of the parishes to prepare for this transition.”

Ascension Parish was established in 1886, and Ascension Church was built and dedicated in 1891. From the turn of the century parish membership was augmented by the arrival of a large number of Slovaks who settled in Mt. Olive to work the coal mines.

By 1921, parish membership had so increased that the Slovak Catholic Union asked Bishop James Ryan to establish a parish for the Slovaks. The bishop granted his permission, a Slovak priest was appointed pastor, and Holy Trinity Church was built.

Several generations later, and with the closing of area mines, there is no longer a demographic need for two distinct parishes in Mt. Olive, the diocesan parish planning study found.

Both parish churches will remain open, and weddings and funerals will continue to be celebrated at either Holy Trinity Church or at Ascension Church, according to a family’s choice.