Parish Mission Statement Promulgated October 7, 2019 Nativity of our Lord is a vibrant Catholic community committed to helping each person answer the call of Jesus Christ to serve as his disciple by…

Nurturing a rich sacramental and spiritual life; Supporting strong Catholic education and faith formation; Fostering fellowship and community; And providing abundant opportunities to participate in the parish’s long

tradition of Christian witness.

Nat i v i t y of Our L or d C A T H O L I C C H U R C H A N N U A L M I S S I O N U P D A T E 2 0 1 9

The mission statement initiative began back in 2013 with parishioners’ valuable responses to our parish survey. After that, the Pastoral Council, made up of generous lay volunteers, consulted extensively with the Men’s Club, NCCW, School Advisory Board, staff, and others to identify key elements in formulating the mission statement in dialogue with our pastor, Fr. Patrick Hipwell. Thus, the mission statement should feel familiar to us, while at the same time inspiring us to be Nativity at its best, centered on what is most important to us, and ever faithful to the mission of Jesus Christ alive in the Catholic Church —and in this parish in particular. We hope that articulating our mission will give us renewed unity and transparency as we continue to hand on the treasure given to us. Read more at https://nativity-mn.org/news/mission-statement.

2018 = Data for Marriages and Deaths is from 2017 for more accurate reporting. 2000 = Data for Confirmation taken from 2001 for more accurate reporting. There are currently 1,755 families in our parish. (Courtesy of Katie Schaitberger, Director of Faith Formation)

In Memoriam Each November, the Church commemorates in a particular way those who have passed from this life. We wish to remember all parishioners who have died in the past year. The following names are those whose funerals were celebrated at Nativity in the past year (or others by request), and who were remembered at the annual Memorial Mass on Saturday, November 2, 2019. Please remember in your prayers: Robert "Bob" Boland Brian J. Cavanagh Barbara Congdon Deanna Devine O'Melia Gregory Devine Rosemary Dill John Dale Douthit Kaitlin Englehart Mary Devoy Gilbert John D. Healy, Jr. Christine M. Herbes J Macoubrey "Mac" Hubbard Marilynn JoAnn Huot Tom Johnson Kathryn Jones Joseph H. Keimig Stewart W. Laird Cynthia L. MacGregor James Mathewson Sister Grace McKigney, C.S.J. James Francis Marty Charles "Chuck" Moinichen Michael R. Murnane Bjarne "Barney" Odland Gregory "Greg" Odland Thomas L. O'Malley Peter G. Seifert Peggy Sheehan Dennis "Denny" Smith Angeline "Angie" Southward Mary Beth Witte Stupka Frank A. Ubel Helen Vogel Mary A. Walsh Rita Wnuk William “Bill” Young May their souls and those of all the faithfully departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace, amen!

Faith Formation https://nativity-mn.org/faith-formation In July, Katie Schaitberger took over as Director of Faith Formation for Randy Mueller, who retired after 24 years of service in June. Students for 2019-20 (as of 9-24-19): Grade 1 10 Students (9 students last year) Grade 2 16 Students (14 last year) Grade 3 9 Students (9 last year) Grade 4 9 Students (6 last year) Grade 5 5 Students (6 last year) Grade 6 6 Students (6 last year) Grade 7 14 Students (16 last year) Total 69 Students (66 last year) 13 Adults fully initiated into the Catholic Faith through RCIA in 2019

One Nativity 2035 https://nativity-mn.org/news/introducing-one-nativity-2035 In partnership with our lay trustees and school principal Kate Wollan, Fr. Patrick launched One Nativity 2035 in July along with 22 parish representatives to seek to better understand our challenges and better take advantage of our opportunities. One Nativity 2035 is a parish-wide collaboration working to identify and recommend ways to better communicate, bolster, and sustain our parish mission in service of this vibrant Catholic community — today and well into the future.

Liturgy https://nativity-mn.org/liturgy-sacraments Liturgical volunteers, including Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Greeters, Altar Servers, and Sacristans, number 288. This past year, we successfully implemented a new, internet-based system of scheduling our Liturgical Ministers, giving everyone full control over their own schedule and availability. It makes finding subs easy and streamlines the scheduling process greatly. Thank you for your help and patience throughout the transition.

Safe Environment https://nativity-mn.org/news/safe-environment In September, Fr. Patrick, and Fr. Nick Hagen, our parochial vicar, preached a “Safe Environment Weekend” and distributed a letter in collaboration with Kate Wollan, assistant principal Sandy Kane, and Katie Schaitberger, Director of Faith Formation, to address the importance of safety and accountability, both from a global perspective as a part of the universal Church, as well as from a local perspective here at Nativity.

Fr. Patrick anoints a gentleman at the Spring Anointing Mass on May 24, 2019.

Welcome New Parishioners! (Joined 11/1/2018 - 10/31/2019) James Ahler Michael & Danielle Anderson Emily & Bennett Anderson Caroline Andrews Fernando Aragon Cordero Amanda Backman Benjamin & Marisa Baker Ellen Black Timothy & Jessica Blaxton Mark & Kathleen Buck Jarryd and Katherine Campbell Elaine Coughlin Jonathan & Meghan Deering Megan Dix Clare Friis Brian Ginter & Elizabeth Roche Leah Gross Jonathan Guzman Noah Hagen Jared Haider Robert & Molly Hallman Anne Haslerud Sr. Diane Hunker, C.S.J. Jenna & Michael Jacobs Joel Juelich Agnes King Christopher Klotsche & Emily Carroll Daniel & Clare Kolar Peter & Kathyrn Kostka Douglas & Vickie Kronlage Amanda & Carson Laatsch Elizabeth Lambrecht & Michael terSteeg Joseph & Krista Masek Madeline McCarthy Emily Meyer Rocio del Carmen Montalvo Nathan & Anna Newman Meggan & Mitch Oldham Yvonne Olson Todd and Theresa Pett Laura Phillipp Laurie Pulver Allie & Jesse Rangel Timothy Rascher & Julia Larson Bridget Rogers Claudia Schaaf Patrick & Rebecca Smith Megan & Walter Smith John Stanton & Ami Whitney Kevin & Celismarie Stevens Donald Stiepan Carol & Donald Swanson Matthew & Kristen Van Fleet Michael & Fallon Vannelli Nicholas & Nicole Viegut Matthew & Isabel Wilson Keely Wojda

Nativity Men’s Club https://nativitymen.org/ All men of Nativity are automatically members of the Men’s Club. Our 2019-20 Board of Directors numbers 31, plus 3 board members emeritus. Accomplishments of the 2018-19 year included: Donating $44,000 to Nativity

School, for Scholarship Fund ($25,000), new technology ($14,000), fine arts, Kinder Kamp, teachers; and sports;

Donations to NELC ($3,000), Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Faith Formation ;

Adoration, Rosaries with NCCW, Donut Sundays, Christmas Wreath and Tree Lot Sales, Annual Cribbage Tournament, Sports Shirt Stag, Scout Pancake Breakfast, and Lenten Fish Frys.

NCCW https://nativitywomen.org/ All women of the parish (currently the list is about 1,600 women) are automatically members of the Nativity Council of Catholic Women and welcomed to participate. Last year there were 28 separate committees, including organizing special Masses, sanctuary cleaning, knitting prayer shawls, making rosaries for overseas missions, Respect Life efforts, the Christmas Giving Tree, Turkey Bingo, First Friday Fellowship, funeral lunches, Trivia Night (new last year), and more.

St. Vincent de Paul Society https://nativity-mn.org/st-vincent-de-paul The Nativity Conference of St. Vincent De Paul is comprised of 22 active members and another 10 semi-active members. This group serves the poor. They have made 40 home visits through September and dispensed almost $15,000 in aid. They package and distribute “Homeless Bags” and “Toiletry Bags” for the homeless, and volunteer at the SVdP W. 7th Thrift Store and the once-a-month Old St. Bernard’s Pop-up Food Shelf.

Urban Catholic (Young Adults) https://nativity-mn.org/urban-catholic Urban Catholic is a dynamic young adult movement at Nativity of Our Lord, led by Katie Schaitberger, Director of Faith Formation, two lay leaders, and their chaplain, Fr. Nick Hagen. Its Facebook Group numbers 215 members and its mailing list has 115 subscribers.

Ladies of NCCW enjoy “An Afternoon Tea in Paris” on February 24, 2019.

Nat i v i t y of Our L or d C A T H O L I C S C H O O L

Nativity School is proud of the hard work of our students as they grow as learners, thinkers, and explorers. Our highest priority for our students is for them to grow spiritually through prayer, service, and knowledge of our Catholic Faith. The theme for the 2019-20 academic year is, “At Nativity, all are SEEN, HEARD, and VALUED." This theme supports each child as they grow into the person God has called them to be as defined in the school’s mission statement. Nativity School is pleased to announce a new literacy initiative which began this fall through a partnership with Groves Learning Academy. This phonics-based reading curriculum is currently being implemented in all kindergarten through second grade classrooms. We have always had an exceptional reading curriculum at Nativity School — yielding exceptional reading scores on our NWEA MAP testing (over 90th percentile nationally in grades 3-8) — however, this program combines best practices in instruction with a solid curriculum that serves the learning needs of all children. This opportunity was made possible through the generous sponsorship of CSCOE (Catholic Schools Center of Excellence). Maintaining a strong enrollment is a high priority to ensure the financial

viability of Nativity School. We are pleased to welcome 84 children to this year’s kindergarten class from 13 preschool programs across the Twin Cities. The preschool options offered at Nativity School and Parish are unsurpassed, responding to the diverse needs of parents throughout our community and beyond. Having over 100 preschoolers in our programs creates a wonderful launching point into the world of education for our youngest learners. This year, we look forward to graduating 85 8th grade students. We know they will be well prepared for a successful high school experience. We are pleased to announce that 13 of last year’s eighth grade graduates received merit scholarships from their high schools of choice based on their performance on their entrance exams. Sixteen (16) graduating eighth graders also received financial awards at several high schools in recognition of their demonstrated leadership, service, and character while at Nativity School. The future is looking bright at Nativity School and the commitment of exceptional educators, strong parent partnership, and support of Nativity parish will ensure that the next generation of young learners will experience the rich tradition of academic excellence grounded in our Catholic faith for years to come!

Nativity County Fair https://www.nativitycountyfair.org/ This past September we celebrated the 45th annual Nativity County Fair, themed “Welcome Home,” and met our goal to exceed the funds raised in 2018. It could not have happened without our Steering Committee (11 couples), 45+ Committees, each with a Chair and Co-chair, Parish Leadership, staff, sponsors, and over 900 volunteer slots filled by parents, parishioners, and community members.

Nativity School Year 2019-20 https://school.nativity-mn.org/ 725 Students 430 Families K-8 105 Preschoolers at Nativity School and NELC