Groups and Organizations

Cantors

Our cantors provide leadership for congregational singing at our Sunday Masses and special liturgies. They assist in helping the congregation to learn new hymns and they are responsible for preparing the Responsorial Psalm each week. The cantor works in collaboration with the music director. A good cantor will have knowledge of hymns, an interest in liturgy, a pleasant voice, and a friendly disposition. Ability to read music is desired, but not required. Training is provided. Call Michael Klenk at 267-625-1888 or michaelklenk@gmail.com.

Choir

Our choir is made up of women and men of high school age and older. No auditions required. Some members read music; most do not. Rehearsals are every Sunday evening from seven o’clock to nine o’clock in the church from September to May. We sing each Sunday at rotating Masses and for special parish celebrations. Contact Michael Klenk, 267-625-1888 or michaelklenk@gmail.com.

Extraordinary Ministers

“Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion” is the formal title of laypeople who distribute the Eucharist during Mass. As the title implies, there are also “ordinary ministers” – those who are literally “ordained” to the ministry namely bishops, priests, and deacons. These ministers are usually the first in order to distribute the Body and Blood of Christ, the deacon being the customary distributor of the cup.  Individuals are invited to join this ministry by the Pastor.

Lectors

Lectors have the opportunity to share the word of God at Sunday and weekday Masses.  If interested in joining this ministry, please call Ann Marie: 215-675-1925.

We are looking for male and female Adult Altar Servers — no prior experience necessary.  Must be available weekday mornings.  Training will be provided.  Adult servers are needed primarily for funeral Masses.  If you are interested, please contact Ann Marie at the Parish Center 215-675-1925 or email agervino@noolp.org

Ushers assist in the orderly execution of the Church functions and celebrations. They also help by distributing the announcements after each Mass.

Evening Bible Study usually meets on the 1^st and 3^rd Thursday of each month in the multi-Media Center with a big screen for viewing the biblical Power Points. Please call Joan Ksiazek with any questions and to join the group!  215-443-9972.

Saturday Morning Bible Study takes place in Nativity’s Church Hall at 7 a.m.  The daily devotional—Word Among Us is used.  Please join us.  Please contact Marshall Coakley with any questions:  215-672-6226.

The Nativity Grief Support Group meets in the school Multi-Media Center on Tuesdays from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Any adult who has suffered a loss is welcome.

Fall schedule:

September 19 – Recognizing our Loss and Grief

October 3 – Our Emotions During the Grief Journey

October 17 – Surviving Stress

October 31 – Elements of Healing and Grief

November 14 – Holidays and Special Times in Our Lives

November 28 – Secondary Losses

The Health Care Ministry is a group of registered nurses and allied health professionals dedicated to serving God by serving others. The Health Care Ministry seeks to develop creative ways of addressing the needs of the parish and identifying resources to nurture health, wellness and healing. All RN’s and other health care professionals and volunteers are invited to join our ministry to serve in a variety of roles. For further information, contact the Parish Center.

With millions of members world wide, the Legion of Mary is open to men, women and children seeking to become closer to Christ through a balanced program of prayer and service. Works of service include mainly visiting the sick and aged at home, in hospitals and nursing facilities, and in many other ways serving the spiritual needs of the parish community. Members meet once a week for prayer, planning and discussion. The work is done in pairs under the guidance of their spiritual director. Adult members meet on Tuesday evenings at 6:30 in the Parish Conference Center kitchen. Please refer to the Sunday bulletin for the Jr. Legion of Mary’s schedule.

Contact Eileen Ziebis at 215-442-7380 for further information.

We gather each Wednesday night at 7:30pm in the Parish Conference Center to experience our Lord’s great love for us. We sing praises to God and we listen to His Word. The Holy Spirit, by virtue of our Baptism and Confirmation, has given all of His people charisms* for the building up of His Church.

We have a weekly teaching which is usually part of a series; i.e. “The Sacraments,” “Dealing with Difficult Emotions,” “Developing a Prayer Life,” and “Crisis of Faith.” People come from many surrounding parishes to be nourished by the Lord at Nativity’s Prayer Group.

There are special graces, also called Charisms, after the Greek term “favor,” gratuitious gift.” Whatever their character – sometimes it is extraordinary, such as the gift of miracles or of tounges – charisms are oriented toward sanctifying grace and are intended for the common good of the Church. They are at the service of charity which builds up the Church [Catechism of the Catholic Church (Paragraph 2003)]

2016-2017 Hours: The first Sunday of each month after the 8 A.M. Mass, approximately 8:30 A.M. – until 12:00 P.M. Library Committee members will be there to welcome you. Also, the Bookmobile will be available any time you are visiting the Church. We’d like to thank everyone for borrowing material from the cart and for making this service a success. Check the Bulletin for our faithful Committee Members’ reviews of “Books of Interest”.

The Parish Pastoral Council is a major consultative body in the parish which advises the pastor who presides over the council.  It is composed of the priests, representative parish staff members who assist with the pastoral functions of the parish, and lay persons who are representatives of the membership of the parish.  The pastor appoints some of the lay representatives, and some are elected by the faithful of the parish.  The Parish Pastoral Council strives to foster full participation of the entire parish in the life and mission of the Church, which, in turn will reflect the mission of Christ.
Members of the Pastoral Council:
Father Watson

Fr. Mekonnen
Jen Boag (jboag@noolp.org)
Roselee Maddaloni
Ann Marie Gervino (agervino@noolp.org)
Frank Drummond
Kevin Baxter
Brian Foedisch
Peg Gregoire
Tom Wanner 

If you would like to speak to one of the council members, please email Ann Marie Gervino: agervino@noolp.org

Pre-Cana
Who, What, When, Where and How

Who is Pre-Cana? (Who joins the Pre-Cana Team?)

Pre-Cana is a team of married couples that enjoy sharing their life experiences with each other as friends and with the engaged couples intending to receive the sacrament of marriage. No one on the team is a professional speaker.

What is Pre-Cana? (What is Pre-Cana about?)

Pre-Cana has many meanings. This is how our team defines it:

Pre-Cana, also referred to as Marriage Preparation, is an interactive discussion between married couples, who make up the Pre-Cana Team, and the engaged couples, who register for the program, and our priest moderator. Engaged couples listen to personal experiences of the Team, receive advice on many topics, and are challenged to discover something new about themselves as individuals and as a couple. Pre-Cana is one way the Church strives to help couples succeed in marriage.

It is support for the church. It is added strength to your marriage. It is more time together with God.

When is Pre-Cana? (What type of commitment is it to join Pre-Cana?)

Pre-Cana currently occurs twice a year, usually occurring in the spring and the fall. Each Pre-Cana session is 1-1/2 days (a Saturday evening and Sunday morning and afternoon). The team meets to discuss each session approx. 3-4 times in the two months prior to each session (Each meeting is about 2 hrs and includes some great desserts).

Where is Pre-Cana presented?

Pre-Cana sessions are held in the parish community center. The meetings prior to the Pre-Cana sessions are held in the homes of the Team.

How is Pre-Cana taught? (Content and lesson styles)

Pre-Cana has a historic background, current ideological format and our local influence. If you are a speaker, you will have a mentor couple. You can review the talks that other couples have done on the topic and have access to a marriage preparation textbook to help you share your own stories. As a married couple you have the ability and with God at your side, you’ll have the strength.

If you are interested in being a member of the Pre-Cana team, please contact the rectory who will inform our pastor and a member couple on the team. You will be contacted and invited to observe a Pre-Cana session and our meetings. (We can’t see how you wouldn’t want to join the fun).

The Saint Gianna’s Mother’s Club is a group of mothers who gather together in God’s presence to seek support, information and fellowship as we strive to model Saint Gianna, our patroness. We meet the first Tuesday of each month (September through May) from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. in the Parish Conference Center (located in the building behind the church). Babysitting is also provided for the toddlers and preschoolers, and you are welcome to bring your babies to the meetings with you. For more information, call the Parish Center at 215-675-1925.

St. Gianna Beretta Molla was a physician, a working mom, professional women, and a loving wife. She has now been raised to the alter in heaven and provides particular inspiration to all those who experience the constant demands and confusing signals that our current culture places on us. She represents all mothers… ” A mother has finally arrived.” The Society of St. Gianna Berretta Molla asked that you explore this site and learn more about St. Gianna. She can be a wonderful friend to have and she may be able to help and inspire you.  The Society is always in need of volunteers.  To learn how to help, contact the parish office at 215-675-1925.

Click here for the Saint Gianna website