The History of the Ascent movement

• 1952 André D’Humieres, pictured left, led a few elderly Christians to form individual groups of prayer and reflection, in Paris.
• 1962 Vie Montante (Life Ascending) is founded in Paris with the name: "Comité d’Entente de Groupes Catholiques d’Anciens."   Start of Vatican II.
• 1979 Fr Henry Pownall of St Philomena’s Liverpool translates the French Handbook into English.
• 1980 Fr André Tanguy, Mme Françoise Nouvel and Sr Marie Benoit visit England.
  Vie Montante takes root in England as the Ascent Movement.   Maidstone and London start Groups.
• 1987 First World Congress in Benin
• 1989 International Congress in Panama  
• 1990 10th Anniversary Celebration at Canterbury Cathedral /Mrs Paula Conrad becomes President in England.
• 1991 European Congress in London Colney
• 1994 Third World Congress at Miami.
• 1995 Life Ascending International (LAI) is admitted to the Conference of International Catholic Organisations.
  15th Birthday Celebrations with three day Conference in Liverpool.
•  1996 Decree of Recognition received from The Pontifical Council of the Laity ‘ad experimentum’ for a period of five years.
• 1997 Molly Hukin elected as President.
• 1998 Fourth World Congress at Dakar, Senegal
• 1999 International Year of Older People. Ascent groups study the Pope’s Document: ‘Dignity and Mission of Older People in the Church and in the World, in preparation of the Jubilee of Older People.
• 2000 Two representatives from England together with 20,000 other older people attended Jubilee Celebration for the Year of The Older Person in Lourdes.
  England is divided into five areas with a Vice-President for each area:- North-West, North-East, Birmingham, Westminster and Southwark with representatives from each area on the National Planning Team
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• 2001 Sr. Margaret Brown is elected President: The Constitution is finalised.21st Birthday Celebrations with a four day Conference in Ripon.The Decree of Recognition from the Pontifical Council of the Laity is ratified/ European Conference held in Velehrad, Czech Republic
• 2002 The Constitution is amended in that the word Apostolate is changed to Mission. Fifth World Congress of Life Ascending International (LAI) at Bangkok. 10 Asian Countries also participated.
• English delegation with Alberto Marxuach (the outgoing President)
•  2003 Miss Bernadette Cantenot, the International President, together with Leon Cassiers, one of the European Presidents came to England to visit members of the Ascent Movement in London, Blackpool and York.
• 2004 European Conference held in Poland with the Theme: How can Vie Montante respond to the needs of retired men and women today?
• 2005 Miss Margaret Snowdon elected President
• 2006 Silver Jubilee Celebrations at Newman College Birmingham
 / Pope Benedict XVI addressed 400,000 members of the Ecclesial Communities and New Movements, including The Ascent Movement, on the Vigil of Pentecost in St Peter's Square.
• 2006 Sixth International Meeting of Life Ascending International held in Lourdes from October 25th -29th. 80 people from 34 countries attended with the theme being 'Seniors - A sign of hope for today's world'.
• 2008 European Conference held in Lourdes with the theme "The role of Life Ascending in a secularized world"

                                                                   From left to right our present and past President: Miss Margaret Snowdon,

                                                                Sr Margaret Brown, Mrs Molly Hukin, Mrs Paula Conrad (Founder President)