Social / Outreach Ministries
Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism.
Meetings are held on Nativity’s Brick Building. Below is the schedule of meeting and contact information:
Friday’s 6-9:30pm Shyam @610-891-8479
Saturday’s 8-10:00am Steve @484-479-4401
Saturday’s 6-9:00pm Shelley @610-812-8160
Aid for Friends is a ministry for our elderly and shut-in parishioners who are independent but unable to cook full meals for themselves. All the necessary materials are provided. Your involvement is either as a cook (preparing some trays) or a visitor (bringing the trays too the recipient and spending some time with them).
This is a great ministry for families who often have left-overs and do not like to waste food. It is a great opportunity for families with children to teach how they can help those in need by sharing their food with the elderly and homebound.
For more information please contact Rich Temple at 610-565-1941.
American Red Cross Blood Drive
Nativity B.V.M Church hosts a blood drive three times a year, Winter, Summer and Fall. It is held in the Parish’s Brick Building.
There’s no one reason to give blood. Maybe you or a family member received blood, or you think that one day you’ll be in need of it. Maybe your friend or colleague asked you to give blood. Maybe you think it’s the right thing to do. No matter the reason, your getting involved helps the Red Cross maintain a healthy and reliable blood supply.
We make the announcements in our Sunday Bulletin prior to the date of the Blood Drive.
For more information, visit the American Red Cross website, www.redcross.org.
Calix Society
Calix is an international association of Catholic alcoholics who have and are maintaining their sobriety through affiliation with, and participation in a 12-step alcohol recovery program. We welcome anyone who is concerned about alcoholism and addiction.
For more information, contact Amy, 610-405-7747, or Dan, 484-432-9796.
Nativity BVM’s Food Program was established in 1970 and for the last 40+ years has served the needs of those who are experiencing financial difficulties.
Every month we provide non-perishable food (canned goods, cereal, pasta, etc.) to parish families in need. In addition, we provide turkeys and hams for the 3 primary Church holidays – Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter.
There are approximately 25 volunteers who collect food and monetary donations before and after the Sunday masses, sort and prepare food bags for the recipients, and deliver to recipients. Many of our volunteers have helped this program for decades. There is that level of heartfelt commitment to this social ministry.
If you are in need, please contact the Rectory, 610-566-0185, regarding becoming a recipient of our food program.
We are always in need of volunteers. Volunteer opportunities include:
- Collectors collect donations of food and money before and after each Mass on Food Collection Sunday.
- Buyers use donated funds to purchase pantry items to ensure that food is available for distribution. This volunteer task is on an “as needed” basis and is not done every month.
- Sorters and packers receive the donated food in the BrickBuilding, prepare the bags of food for the recipients, and restock the pantry with the donated items.
- Deliverers deliver the food to the recipients who are unable to pick up.
The volunteer positions are either every month, every other month, or on an “as needed” basis. If you can donate some time the last Sunday of the month and are interested in joining this social ministry, please contact Mary Huis at maryhuis@verizon.net or call 215-837-0715. We would love to meet you and welcome you to our group.
Giving Tree (Christmas Season)
H.O.P.E. (Helping Other People Everyday)
What is HOPE and what kind of services does it provide?
HOPE stands for Helping Other People in Emergency. HOPE is basically an organized way of connecting parishioners who need help with parishioners who can provide it. The volunteers will assist with transportation to and from medical appointments, grocery shopping, rides to Sunday mass, temporary relief for caregivers, and visiting/checking in on homebound parishioners. The kind of thing you might ask a neighbor to do!
For information or to volunteer contact Valerie Teal at val@teals.org or 610-892-3712.
The Saint Vincent DePaul Society, a Catholic lay organization, leads women and men to join together to grow spiritually by offering person-to-person service to the needy and suffering in the tradition of its founder, Blessed Frederic Ozanam, and patron. The Society provides assistance to those in our parish who are in need on a person-to-person basis. This assistance comes in many forms, depending upon the needs of the person or family. The Society also holds clothing and household item drives several times throughout the year.
For more information contact Pat Lalli at 610-566-1853.
Saint Francis Inn Soup Kitchen Ministries
St. Francis Inn has been serving meals to the neediest individuals and families in Philadelphia since 1979. The doors were opened in December of 1979 and have served a meal every day since then. A breakfast of hot or cold cereal or pastries is served three days a week. A sit-down meal is served in the dining room every day. 350 meals are served a day with dignity and respect. Meals are served restaurant-style; guests don’t walk through a line to get their food. Compassionate volunteers serve them at their tables.
Volunteers come daily to help cook, serve and clean. With the help and support of volunteers and benefactors, St. Francis Inn is able to serve guests every day with a warm, nourishing meal in a caring and respectful setting.
Nativity B.V.M. Parish volunteers at St. Francis Inn in Kensington on the 3rd Saturday of the month. The group meets and leaves from Nativity B.V.M. Rectory at 10:15a.m. and returns by 2:00pm.
To volunteer, Please call the Rectory at 610-566-0185. www.stfrancisinn.org
St. John’s Hospice is a program of Catholic Social Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
St. John’s Hospice seeks to be a community grounded in faith and service where homeless persons find dignity, respect, nourishment, and opportunities for new beginnings.
St. John’s Hospice provides a noon meal to 300 to 350 men each weekday. They also offer showers, clothing and personal hygiene articles to those who need assistance.
Through the generosity of the Nativity B.V.M. Church parishioners, Nativity donates 150 casseroles to St. John’s every month. Our generous parishioners also donate men’s toiletry items, new or gently used men’s sneakers, shoes, shirts, pants, coats and new men’s underwear, t-shirts (size L, XL, 2XL) and men’s athletic socks.
We thank our parishioners for their continued support for this worthwhile organization. Casserole pans and recipes are in the vestibule in the back of the church. Recipes can also be found on the website of St. John’s Hospice.
For more information on St. John’s Hospice, please see their website at www.stjohnshospice.org.
