News - From the Pastor RSS Feed

After careful planning, and in consultation with the Nativity School Advisory Council and members of our search committee, we’ve made the decision to move to a new leadership model proven effective for schools of Nativity’s size and complexity.

***UPDATE: Priority registration deadline is Memorial Day (Monday, May 26)*** Our pastor, Fr. Rolf Tollefson, invites you to follow the footsteps of St. Paul on a 9-Night Greek Islands Cruise tour, plus four nights in Athens from October 21 - November 4, 2025.

It was with great joy that I learned of the white smoke billowing out of the chimney in Vatican City and it is with great joy that we can now celebrate together what it heralded: not only a new Sovereign Pontiff but our first Pope from the United States, from the American midwest and the south side of Chicago, Illinois!

On behalf of the Nativity of Our Lord parish community, I wish to offer Christ’s blessings and a heartfelt congratulations to Joyce Kotta on her retirement. Click here for more, including a message from Joyce herself.

Fr. John Paul and I echo Archbishop Bernard Hebda’s sadness at the Holy Father’s passing. He was a man of profound joy, faith, hope, love, and simplicity in life and in death. I invite you to please join me in prayer for the repose of his soul.

He is risen! Alleluia! Indeed, we have now completed another round of the *preparing* part of our mission, and now can enjoy the great Easter *celebration.*

Fr. Tollefson has appointed Beth Giese to the role of Parish Administrator. Beth has served as Director of Advancement for the past two years, and will now manage all aspects of the administration of the parish, excluding spiritual and pastoral ministries.

Our Parish Business Administrator Laura Barr has departed from her leadership role at Nativity. We greatly appreciate her many years of service.

There’s rich irony in the pastor of a church called Nativity missing Christmas liturgies in his first year on the job. But as a believing Catholic Christian, I’m inclined to look for God’s hand moving amidst the seemingly random occurrences in our lives.

Through prayerful discernment, the Lord revealed to our Director of Discipleship, Mahalia Marcelin, that he has new plans for her, and she has decided to resign from her role here at Nativity of Our Lord, effective December 31.

I am very pleased to announce that two religious sisters from the order of the Handmaids of the Heart of Jesus will be coming to work in our School and Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program, beginning this fall.

Having surpassed nine months with you now, let me tell you what a great grace it is to be serving Christ with you here at Nativity of Our Lord, and offer an update on the implementation of the One Nativity 2035 strategic planning as it relates to our mission.

Fr. Bill Duffert will lead Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Bloomington beginning July 1, and Fr. John Paul Erickson will take over as Parochial Vicar (Associate Pastor) on July 20.

Videos are being viewed in small group meetings and are now also available for anyone else who wants to learn about prayer — whether they're brand new to an intentional prayer life, or seasoned vets.

We are expanding our Donut Sunday weekends to be our official Welcome Weekends, and we want all parishioners to make time to stay after Mass to meet new parishioners, and become better acquainted with everybody else.

Archbishop Hebda hopes every parishioner in every parish will eventually be in some kind of small group within the parish. Why not begin with us this Lent?

The solemn feast of the Nativity of Our Lord is upon us, my very first as pastor of Nativity of Our Lord. As our Advent longing turns to Christmas joy, may God bless you and your families ever more abundantly.

While retaining her responsibilities in Faith Formation, the scope of her role will expand to include hospitality as well as further outreach and evangelization-forward opportunities.