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Lent is coming on February 18 and it’s the perfect time to focus on growing in our faith. Why not do it together in a small group, for friendship, support, and consistency? Click here for some new small groups that are looking for participants.

Isn’t it fun to get an invitation? We love to be included in celebrations and special events. This month, the Archdiocesan Reclaiming Sundays program invites us to refresh our celebrations with a new awareness, and share our joy with those around us. Click here for ideas and sample activities for January.

As the calendar year nears its end, please help us by fulfilling your 2025 stewardship commitment and/or by providing Nativity of Our Lord with a special year-end gift. Thank you for your generosity!

Registration for Elementary Faith Formation for the new program year, which began September 17, has been extended to October 1.

In response to the liturgical listening sessions last fall, we will introduce some changes to the 9:00 AM Sunday Mass, beginning on Sunday, September 21 to make it more family-friendly. We also plan to bring back Communion under both species (the Body and Blood of Christ).

In order to better serve you, our parishioners, the parish office front desk is now open all day on Fridays. Office hours at the Lannan Center are now the same every day of the week, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM.

Our new parish Picture Directory is almost complete! The production process has taken longer than we would have preferred, but we are hoping the shipment will arrive in the next month or so. Thank you to all who have contributed to this extensive and important project, and for your patience as we approach the finish line.

Nativity of Our Lord has purchased a limited number of volumes of the Archdiocese's 175th Anniversary coffee table book, "In Everything, Give Thanks," as well as its graphic novel counterpart, "Catholics in the Northland." They are now both available for sale on a first-come, first-served basis to reserve here on our website or at the parish office.

Each parish is sending their pastor and two lay delegates to the 2025 Archdiocesan Synod Assembly; Theme updates for Years 3-4; Invitation to pray Holy Spirit Novena culminating on Pentecost (June 7).

After careful planning, and in consultation with the Nativity School Advisory Council and members of our search committee, we’ve made the decision to move to a new leadership model proven effective for schools of Nativity’s size and complexity.

Introduced in the Synod Year 2 Implementation Plan, the Archdiocesan Passport Adventure is an opportunity to experience more broadly the beauty of church architecture and liturgical expressions beyond parish boundaries.

It was with great joy that I learned of the white smoke billowing out of the chimney in Vatican City and it is with great joy that we can now celebrate together what it heralded: not only a new Sovereign Pontiff but our first Pope from the United States, from the American midwest and the south side of Chicago, Illinois!

We’re now looking to hire for two full-time positions in the parish office: Director of Mission and Accounting Specialist. If you’re interested in joining our team, click here to review the job descriptions and reach out to Beth Giese, Parish Administrator, to apply.

On behalf of the Nativity of Our Lord parish community, I wish to offer Christ’s blessings and a heartfelt congratulations to Joyce Kotta on her retirement. Click here for more, including a message from Joyce herself.

UPDATE: Grief Support Group meetings have been cancelled through May 13.

Fr. John Paul and I echo Archbishop Bernard Hebda’s sadness at the Holy Father’s passing. He was a man of profound joy, faith, hope, love, and simplicity in life and in death. I invite you to please join me in prayer for the repose of his soul.

He is risen! Alleluia! Indeed, we have now completed another round of the *preparing* part of our mission, and now can enjoy the great Easter *celebration.*

Fr. Tollefson has appointed Beth Giese to the role of Parish Administrator. Beth has served as Director of Advancement for the past two years, and will now manage all aspects of the administration of the parish, excluding spiritual and pastoral ministries.

Lent provides a chance to go deeper: both giving and giving up. Learning and praying together as a family enhances simpler meals. Lent coincides with lengthening days, enriching our patient waiting and preparing. Click for ideas to pray, eat, and work together.

Why does the priest sometimes wear green and sometimes white? What do the seasons of the Church have to do with our daily lives? All this and more in The Family Corner, a new feature where we’ll share ways to bring the liturgical seasons of the Church into our families and homes in simple, accessible, kid-friendly ways.