Author: Claire Harbeck

Calling all Altar Servers!
Boys and girls 4th grade through high school

The Church of the Nativity is looking for more children to join our current group of altar servers who assist the priest on the altar during Mass.

Each altar server:

• typically serves one Mass a month (occasionally two). Great way to do service/volunteer hours!
• is trained during one 45-minute session with Fr. Chris and Dr. Ken Laughinghouse, coordinator for altar servers
• can sign up in pairs with their friends or siblings if they wish

Please email altarservers@nativitychurchnj.org to sign your son or daughter up or if you have any questions.

The mission of the Basic Needs Committee is to do as Jesus did; to reach out and serve our brothers and sisters in need. Through this committee, our parish community is asked to help provide for the needs of those in our region and globally who are less fortunate. Our outreach efforts are described below.

Contact: Amanda Stevens or Mary Beth Bull, 732-741-1714 x244

Year Round

Basic Needs Funding
Chairs: Sandra DelMonaco, Raquel Falotico, Bill Gesell
Basic Needs Committee volunteers support hundreds of families with food, housing, caregiver help and other relief

Eagles Up
Chairs: Sandra DelMonaco, Annie DiDomenico, Raquel Falotico, Bill Gesell, Kelly Kachinski
We support our troops by sending care packages to those deployed overseas. Parishioners are invited to support our troops by donating snacks, toiletries, comic books, etc., to the boxes located at the Church entrances. Financial assistance is also welcomed. We also network with other organizations in Central Jersey to gather items to send and obtain the majority of the financial support needed to cover the cost associated with sending packages. Volunteers gather the donations and pack them up for shipment about every two weeks.

Food Pantry
Chair: Jo Heath
Parishioners are invited to donate non-perishable food items, such as canned and dried goods and place them in the boxes at all entrances of the Church for distribution to local individuals and families in need.

Lunch Break
Chairs: Linda Gesell, Mary Haynes, Kathy Ramirez
On the Thursday before the third Friday of each month, parish volunteers gather in the parish hall kitchen at 8:30am to prepare a meal to be served at Lunch Break in Red Bank. On the third Friday of each month, parish volunteers serve the clients at Lunch Break at 5:30pm.

Meals for The Center in Asbury Park
Chair: Mary Beth Bull
Parishioners are invited to take single serve containers from the church office pantry, fill them with a nutritious meal, and return to the freezer in the church office pantry. A volunteer will transport them to The Center in Asbury Park.

Seasonal

School Supplies
Chair: Mary Beth Bull
In late summer, we collect school supplies for Big Brothers Big Sisters. Supplies may be placed in bins located in the church lobby.

Box of Joy
Chair: Annie DiDomenico
In October, we collect shoe boxes filled with toys for distribution over the holidays. We support children in 3rd world countries through Cross Catholic Outreach.

Advent Project
Chairs: Jo Heath, Tammy McKenna
Ornaments created by children of the parish are offered for sale during the 4 weeks of Advent. Donations received are distributed to a local charity.

Senior Citizen Christmas Gifts
Chair: Kathy Ramirez
During Advent, wrapped Christmas gifts for senior citizens are donated by parishioners and placed under the Christmas Tree located in the Church. Gifts are distributed to local nursing homes.

Easter, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Food Baskets
Chairs: Amanda Stevens, Kelly Kachinski
During the weeks leading up to these holiday seasons, Basic Needs collects non-perishable items as well as frozen turkeys and hams to create holiday baskets which are distributed to local friends and families in need.

Fifth Sunday Collection/Poor Boxes/Candle Donations
The Basic Needs Committee’s primary source of funds to support our efforts to help individuals in need comes from the Basic Needs collection conducted on the fifth Sunday (approximately four times a year), the three poor boxes located inside of the Church, candle donations, and donations made directly to the Basic Needs Committee.

Click here to review Basic Needs 2024 Accomplishments

Lectors fulfill an important liturgical role when they proclaim the Word of God to the community at Mass. They also participate in special liturgies throughout the year. Lectors are scheduled to serve on a regular and rotating basis according to their availability and other personal considerations.

What do you get for serving as a Lector?

1. The opportunity to serve your parish
2. The opportunity to participate in the Mass in a new way
3. The opportunity to increase your spirituality
4. Training
5. Appreciation
6. Credit for your high school volunteer hours

If you are interested in serving, please contact: Paul Sperber (908) 902-1209 or psperber@verizon.net

RENEW is a small group of parishioners sharing their faith through Bible readings, books, videos, and discussions that educate, support and grow our faith.

There are three different groups that meet: two in the morning and one in the evening. The morning groups meet approximately 6 weeks in the spring and 6 weeks in the fall. Feel free to join in on one of the sessions. All are welcome.

Tuesday Morning Group contact: Kathleen Hassinger, akhassinger@verizon.net
Wednesday Morning Group contact: Tammy McKenna, tammy.nwg@gmail.com
Evening Group contact: Roger Trepanier, rltrep@yahoo.com