The Church of the Nativity of Our Lord is a Roman Catholic parish which has been serving families and individuals in Fair Haven, NJ and surrounding communities for more than 60 years. We are one of the 107 parishes within the Diocese of Trenton.
Our Parish Vision Statement
The Church of the Nativity will be known as a prayerful community for people of all ages who are falling in love with God and God’s people. As a joy-filled Catholic community, our calling is to welcome all to our parish and share the Gospel message of Jesus Christ. We nurture spiritual growth within our Catholic parish, ministering to those seeking to be welcomed, and desiring engagement and connections with others seeking the Lord, while challenging all parishioners to spiritual growth.
Our Parish Mission Statement
Obediently embracing Jesus’ command to make disciples, we are a prayerful community where people truly meet Jesus. Delivering on our Vision as a prayerful Catholic parish, our Mission will be to develop and deliver programs which engage existing and new parishioners of all ages, which are welcoming and open to people seeking a deeper relationship with God.
We will assist families, single people, and older adults to find resources, activities, and liturgies which nourish spiritual growth within the Catholic tradition, mindful of our connection to the Diocese of Trenton, and the teaching and doctrine of the global Roman Catholic Church.
Financial Statement & Statistical Overview of Sacramental Life
Here is the financial statement for our parish for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024 (July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024) as well as a statistical overview of the sacramental life of our parish.
As you will see on the financial statement, we reported a total net income for the fiscal year. Our parish had no outstanding debt to the Diocese as of 6/30/24 – this is a great testament to the financial stability of our parish over the years. We continue to make monthly payments (at no interest) for the new organ which we plan to pay in full by the end of the current fiscal year (fiscal year end 2025).
Major factors in the financial stability of our parish are legacy gifts (bequests). Generous parishioners that remember our parish in their estates have helped us meet our operating expenses on a year-to-year basis. Thank you so much for your continued generosity and support to our parish.
Our parish is able to keep our campus beautiful and functioning through your generosity. As you know, we completed a number of larger projects during fiscal year end 2024 including: the new organ and choir loft renovations, concrete work on the apron to the main entrance to the church, new windows on the Ridge Road side of the colonnade, replacing all the parking lot lights, as well as the parish offices, colonnade, downstairs and religious education wing hallways with LED lighting and renovating a bathroom in the rectory. We are continuing to keep up with the maintenance of our campus during this current fiscal year as well with replacing all our religious education classrooms with LED lighting, renovation of the Marian grotto near the grove, replacing of an electrical panel in the boiler room, three new parish signs located in front of the church, the corner of Ridge and Hance Roads and the Ridge Road entrance along with other additional work to be done during the year.
There also are ongoing projects on campus to keep our grounds beautiful. We are blessed to have multiple beautiful areas on campus to reflect and pray.
This year, we once again are including an overview of recent years statistics highlighting mass attendance, Baptisms, First Communions, Confirmations, Marriages, and Funerals with a snap shot of our current year Religious Education enrollment.
We have been blessed to have a successful fiscal year I would like to sincerely thank all our parishioners for the generosity you have shown our parish. Your support through your time, talent and treasure is so greatly appreciated. Thank you again!
God Bless,
Fr. Chris